Route 981 Turnpike Interchange Advances to Design Stage
United, PA · September 13, 2026
Keep an umbrella handy by the front door if you are setting out for the outdoor markets and lawn shows today. A few stray showers may roll through the valley, but the late-summer rhythm remains firmly intact.
The Lead
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has officially added a new interchange at State Route 981 to its ten-year capital plan, setting the stage for direct tollway access right in Mount Pleasant Township. Located near milepost 80.8, roughly fifteen minutes south of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, the $45 million diamond interchange relies on the turnpike's transition to cashless Open Road Tolling, which scraps bulky toll plazas in favor of overhead electronic gantries.
The project ties directly into PennDOT's broader corridor upgrades along Route 981 to improve freight flow around New Stanton. While neighbors along adjacent country roads are keeping a watchful eye on potential truck traffic and farmland preservation, engineers are moving ahead with a specialized design-build procurement process. Survey crews will begin ground assessments along the corridor this fall as planners refine preliminary right-of-way maps.
Local Pulse
Westbound Interstate 70 Restrictions Begin Monday Morning Highway crews will restrict westbound traffic to a single lane near Rostraver while pouring temporary concrete for the interchange.
County Courts Report Significant Rise in No-Show Jurors Judicial officials urge summoned residents to appear after thousands failed to report for scheduled civil and criminal trials.
Today's Outlook
- High 80°F · Low 69°F — Rain (50% chance of precipitation)
- Pack an umbrella today to handle passing rain amidst the warm afternoon air.
What's On Around Town
Greensburg: Antiques & Collectibles Market Historic Hanna's Town (809 Forbes Trail Rd), 8:00 AM–12:00 PM Browse vintage decor, folk art, and historical wares across the grounds.
Greensburg: Perspectives on Photography The Westmoreland Museum of American Art (221 N Main St), 2:00–4:00 PM Free panel exploring contemporary photography with visiting artists and collectors.
Rostraver: The Wally Gingers Orchestra Cedar Creek Park Amphitheater, 4:00 PM Free outdoor big-band swing concert—pack lawn chairs and a blanket.
Latrobe: Farm to Table Dinner Jamison Farm (171 Jamison Ln), 5:00–8:00 PM Benefit dinner featuring pasture-raised seasonal courses supporting the local art center.
Spotlight & Story
- Sand Hill Berries
- Founded in 1981 by sisters Susan Lynn and Amy Schilling on an overgrown 188-acre farm, this fruit haven once supplied red currants and golden raspberries to White House state dinners before expanding into fresh-baked pies and estate winemaking.
United Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
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