Delays Expected on I-79 During the BOOM & A Blast Fireworks Event

Travelers along Interstate 79 in Butler County this weekend should expect delays—and some booms and blasts.

The Pyrotechnics Guild International is holding its annual convention Sunday, Aug. 11 through Friday, Aug. 16 at the Cooper’s Lake Campground off I-79 near Slippery Rock.

The Boom & a Blast event, which is open to the public on certain nights, will include seminars, workshops, safety training, fireworks and supplies vending, socializing, music and some high-powered fireworks displays.

It also comes with heavy traffic, as thousands of people are expected to attend the event.

The Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau warns motorists that fireworks shows, some more intense than others, will occur daily between 4 p.m. and 1 a.m. Aug 11-16, and possibly Saturday, Aug. 17.

Drivers are reminded not to stop or park on the highway to watch the fireworks. State police will be patrolling the area and plan to ticket any motorists who stop to watch the stop, according to PennDOT.

The portions of the highway that will be most impacted are between Exit 96 (Portersville/Prospect) and Exit 105 (Slippery Rock).

Traffic control devices for an I-79 Northbound event detour and event entrance/exit traffic will be in place Aug. 8-19.

They are:

• Variable Message Boards at the event entrance/exit at Currie Road

• Two lanes unrestricted traffic on Route 422
• The ramp from SR 422 to I-79 North is closed as part of current I-79/Route 422 project
• Traffic from the event going north will use the event detour – Route 19 to Route 108
• Traffic traveling north can also use the project detour – Route 19 to Route 208
• Event flaggers will be at several locations to assist motorists during public fireworks displays

The public fireworks displays take place Aug. 11, 13, 14, and 16.

To learn more about the convention, click here.