The critical phase of PennDOT’s highly-publicized Commercial Street Bridge replacement project is about to begin.
Commercial Street/Forward Avenue will close to traffic between Whipple Street and Summerset Drive beginning at 7 a.m. on June 29, and around the clock through early August.
Commuters in the Swisshelm Park side of the road can follow a posted detour via Whipple Street, Monongahela Avenue, South Braddock Avenue, Forbes Avenue and Beechwood Boulevard.
Commuters on the Squirrel Hill side can follow the same roads in the opposite order.
Nine Mile Run Trail will also close on June 29 to pedestrians and bicyclists between the Nine Mile Run parking lot in Swisshelm Park and the Frick Park Commercial Street Parking lot in Squirrel Hill.
The main Parkway East (I-376) closure between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and Edgewood-Swissvale exits begins at 9 p.m. on July 10 and also runs through early August. Workers will slide a new Commercial Street Bridge into place using a system of hydraulic jacks – a process that PennDOT expects to cost $95 million in total.
Western Pennsylvanians should take note of the following upcoming traffic changes:
Pittsburgh
• Lane restrictions will occur in both directions on the Birmingham Bridge from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Crews are inspecting the bridge.
• I-279 will close between the Camp Horne Road exit ramp (Exit 8) and the I-279 South entrance ramp from McKnight Road from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. A single-lane closure will take place during the same hours on Tuesday. Workers are demolishing Jacks Run Bridge No. 3 due to corrosion. Commuters can follow a detour via Camp Horne Road, Lowries Run Road, Rochester Road, Babcock Boulevard and McKnight Road.
Allegheny County
• Route 910 will close between Middle Road and Community Center Drive in Richland beginning 7 p.m. on Friday and through 5 a.m. on Monday. Workers are completing slide repairs. Commuters can follow a posted detour via Route 8, the Wildwood Road Extension and Middle Road.
• Lane restrictions are in place northbound on William Flinn Highway (Route 8) between Glasgow Road and the Butler County line through late June. Workers are conducting emergency drainage repairs and flaggers are on site to direct traffic. PennDOT does not anticipate southbound lane restrictions.
• Single-lane closures will take place in both directions on Brinton Road between Maple Avenue and Ardmore Boulevard in Edgewood beginning Monday and on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through June 29. Crews are upgrading lighting as part of the $100 million Parkway East betterment project.
• Single-lane alternating traffic will take place on Wilson Street between Grant Avenue and Wendlin Street in Etna beginning Monday and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through mid-July. Workers are installing a gas line.
• Single-lane alternating traffic will take place on Baptist Road between Lachman Road and Weyman Road in Whitehall from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Monday and through late September. Workers are replacing a gas line.
Fayette County
• North Gallatin Avenue in Uniontown will close between East Penn Street and Lincoln Street beginning Monday and through mid-September. Workers are improving a bridge superstructure as part of a $2.5 million project. Drivers can follow a posted detour via East Penn Street and Bailey Avenue. Pedestrians can follow a posted detour via East Penn Street, North Beeson Avenue, and Maple Street.
Washington County
• Noblestown Road will close between Lincoln Avenue and Johns Avenue in Robinson beginning Wednesday and through the end of July. Workers are replacing a pipe. Commuters can follow a posted detour via Johns Avenue and Route 980.
• The Route 2020 Bridge in West Bethlehem will remain closed between Jefferson Avenue and Lone Pine Road through mid-July. Workers are refurbishing the bridge as part of a $3.1 million project. Commuters can follow a posted detour via I-79 and Lone Pine Road.
Westmoreland County
• Single-lane restrictions will continue on Route 119 in New Stanton in both directions between Exit OB and Youngwood Ramp A through mid-July. Workers are refurbishing a bridge as part of a $3.1 million project.