I-70/79 (Southeast interchange), Washington, PA

I-70 runs east-west here, I-79 comes in from the south and continues to the northwest multiplexed with I-70.

This is one of the more dangerous places on the I-system. Northbound traffic on I-79 (from West Virginia and beyond) must descend a 70+ meter grade in just over 1.5 km and immediately slow to about 30 km/h at the bottom of the hill to make the turn on the loop ramp of the 'trumpet' interchange at I-70 in order to continue on NB I-79 towards Pittsburgh. I-70 and I-79 are multiplexed for about 5 km around to the north side of Washington where they split, with I-70 going on westward towards Wheeling, WV.

Also note the configuration of the NB ramps at the first interchange to the south (US 40).

It is unknown to me whether or not any improvements/re-engineering is planned here, although it appears that it should not be too much of a problem to construct more direct 'fly-over' ramps for the I-79 'through' connections of this interchange.

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