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Drivers exploring shortcut to official detour for turnpike closure

Tim Rogers drives the turnpike between the Cranberry and New Castle interchanges constantly during the week and is impressed construction crews will be able to replace a bridge over just one weekend.

“The bridge that they are replacing is just down the street from my house,” said Rogers, who owns a small business. “Pretty impressive what they are doing.”

Impressive, yes, but time-consuming for drivers who need to head north and west.

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The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s detour is an 80-mile wraparound that goes through four counties including Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties.

Traffic anchor Trisha Pittman helped us time out the recommended detour, which took more than an hour and 15 minutes.

Channel 11 also wanted to check out a shortcut some drivers may choose to use, using Interstate 79 to Route 422, then crossing over and getting on Interstate 376 before picking up the turnpike in New Castle.

This drive took us 50 minutes. Route 422 is mostly industrial in that stretch, so you won’t see many walk-in businesses or houses.

While many weekend trips might be delayed, some drivers like Rogers are happy the detour won’t affect his livelihood on a weekday.

“Thank goodness it’s the weekend,” he said. “I won’t have to do it. It will be back up on Monday.”