Morning Roundup: I-79 lanes reopen after truck rollover in Allegheny County

Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Aug. 23:

I-79 lanes reopen after truck rollover in Allegheny County

Northbound lanes of Interstate 79 were open once more shortly after 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, after a truck rollover in Allegheny County restricted traffic to a single lane for several hours.

The crash occurred just before 6 a.m. just north of the Mt. Nebo Road exit., according to a county 911 dispatch supervisor. There was no indication anyone had been injured.

Traffic restrictions set for Routes 28, 51, Parkway East

Motorists in Allegheny County should expect to encounter traffic restrictions beginning today on three major routes.

Single-lane restrictions are scheduled between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on portions of northbound Route 28 and northbound Route 51 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard) in Pittsburgh.

Route 28 restrictions will be in place on Wednesday underneath the 40th Street Bridge while crews from the Larson Design Group inspect the bridge, according to PennDOT.

Drivers on Route 51 will experience daily daytime restrictions Wednesday through Aug. 30, between Maytide Street and Overbrook Boulevard, as crews from Insituform Technologies clean sewer lines.

Overnight lane restrictions for eastbound motorists on sections of the Parkway East are planned between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. beginning Wednesday and Thursday nights, PennDOT said.

The restrictions will affect traffic in Edgewood, Forest Hills and Churchill boroughs.

Crews will replace pavement markings and perform bridge deck grinding in the following locations:

• Edgewood/Swissvale exit (Exit 77) over Braddock Avenue;

• Forest Hills exit (Exit 78A) over Route 30 (Ardmore Boulevard);

• Churchill exit (Exit 79B) over Beulah Road.

Hole discovered in roof of shuttered Century III Mall

Officials in West Mifflin are assessing a hole that has been discovered in the roof of the closed Century III Mall.

West Mifflin Borough Manager Brian Kamauf told Tribune-Review news partner WTAE-TV that borough engineers are investigating the hole.

Kamauf said it’s likely this hole is in the same location as a fire that occurred on the mall’s third floor in April.

He said he doesn’t believe the hole poses any added threat to the public, but he encouraged people to obey a previous directive by officials to stay away from the mall. Numerous “Keep Out” signs are posted throughout the site.

A teenage boy was hospitalized in June after falling 20 feet at the former Macy’s store at the mall.

The borough council in July voted to condemn the 1.3-million-square-foot building that closed in 2019 and now sits dilapidated, structurally unsound and covered in graffiti.

District Judge Richard D. Olasz Jr. fined the mall’s owner, Moonbeam Capital Investments, more than $240,000 for violating borough ordinances on sanitation, unsafe structures, and weeds and high growth.

Vehicle stolen from Washington County ambulance service

Investigators are looking for an emergency vehicle stolen from an ambulance service in Washington County.

State police said the white 2014 Ford Explorer belonging to Washington Ambulance and Chair was stolen between about 9 p.m. Thursday and 7 p.m. Friday in Canton Township.

The vehicle has emergency equipment and markings associated with the ambulance service and bears Pennsylvania registration no. EV74404.