<p>Hear that Pa turnpike under a lot of construction. Alternative routes? Staying by airport.</p>
<p>Are you staying near the Pittsburgh airport? Or driving from NJ? We have always use the PA turnpike and never hit traffic until we got off the exit for Pittsburgh (the tunnel seems to back up).</p>
<p>The PA turnpike is ALWAYS under construction (except in the heart of Winter). Best bet is just to take the turnpike…the congestion will not be too bad. Also the airport is quite a drive from Pitt and the traffic congestion from there to Pitt during weekdays is usually much worse than the turnpike.</p>
<p>If you are staying in a motel and need suggestions for a closer motel…let me know. Or you can do a search on this forum, the topic has been discussed in the past. </p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>I just drove from Pittsburgh to Edison two weeks ago. We took the turnpike to I-81 and then I-78. The drive was fine except for a little bit of traffic along 76 near Harrisburg (it was also a Friday afternoon). I agree with MTnest, the turnpike is fine.</p>
<p>If you want to avoid tunnel traffic, you can either take exit 79B on the left towards Churchill and take Penn Avenue down to Fifth. I tend to do this to avoid the Tunnel traffic.</p>
<p>Or you can take exit 77 towards Edgewood/Swissvale and drive into Oakland through Regent Square and Squirrel Hill.</p>
<p>“The PA turnpike is ALWAYS under construction (except in the heart of Winter). Best bet is just to take the turnpike…the congestion will not be too bad.”</p>
<p>Yes, this. OP, were you talking to my father-in-law? 
There’s always construction, and I don’t think we’ve ever encountered problems.</p>
<p>Thanks! We are actually on way to Indiana, stopping halfway…but will explore the city on way home :).</p>
<p>For future reference, if you are coming from the east, Monroeville is more convenient than the airport hotels. We also nearly always took the turnpike. It has regular stops for Starbucks, which was worth a lot to me.</p>
<p>Thanks MD Mom, will keep that in mind!</p>
<p>No parking charges in Monroeville either. With the closed tunnel it was tricky at graduation, but I often stayed there.</p>
<p>On our way home right now from dropping DS at CMU. Just checking Pitt thread for friend. IMO, 80W is the best route. From northern NJ, take 287S to 80W to 99S to 22W to 376W. The one bad thing about 80 is that the rest stops are restrooms/vending machines only. I prefer to bring my own food/snacks anyway, though I do love Starbucks!</p>
<p>Took the turnpike…no issues. Except for the airport. Ha ha. Lesson learned :).</p>
<p>We live in north Jersey. Have taken the following a few times… 78 to 81 south to PA Tpke. No trouble until you get right near Pittsburgh, but not bad! Pretty ride.</p>