Share Share Share UPDATE: The closure of Route 51 has been extended until 3 p.m. on Aug. 29 due to "unforeseen field conditions and utility relocation work," PennDOT says. PREVIOUS: Part of Saw Mill Run Boulevard (Route 51) in Pittsburgh will be closed for most of August to accommodate the demolition of a bridge. PennDOT says all lanes of Route 51 are closed between Crane Avenue and Woodruff Street until 5 a.m. on Aug. 26. Traffic is being detoured. (Scroll down to see the detour routes) The closure started Thursday night, as crews began working to bring down the Saw Mill Run Boulevard bridge near Woodruff Street in Mount Washington. Doug Thompson, assistant district executive of construction at PennDOT District 11, said the bridge will be demolished, not imploded. "There will be equipment lifted up onto the bridge, and we'll be scooping off all the overburden or the fill on the bridge, and we will cut a hole in the deck, and they'll just drop down below, and they'll be scooping it up and trucking the material out. So there'll be no dramatic implosions or anything like that," Thompson said. Thompson said the bridge was used by the railroad and most recently as a parking deck. He said while it is considered safe, it needs to come down for the long-term safety of travelers on Route 51. Mount Washington resident Steve Augustine is bracing for the traffic headache. "Every summer there's construction everywhere in Pittsburgh, so we're just all used to it," Augustine said. Thompson said PennDOT has been in touch with businesses along the route. "For their customers coming to the business, there will be signs indicating that the road will be open to those local businesses only," Thompson said. Car detours: Northbound Route 51 From northbound Route 51, take the ramp to 579 toward Downtown/South Side Turn right and continue through Liberty Tunnel Cross the Liberty Bridge and take the ramp to 376 East toward Oakland/Monroeville/Boulevard of the Allies Turn left onto Boulevard of the Allies toward Downtown Pittsburgh Turn left onto Stanwix Street Take the ramp to 376 West toward Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport From westbound I-376, cross the Fort Pitt Bridge and continue through the Fort Pitt Tunnel Take the ramp to 19 South toward Banksville Road (Exit 69A) Continue toward Truck 19/51 South toward Uniontown Bear left toward 376 East/51 South Merge onto Banksville Road Take the ramp to Route 19/51 North toward West End Circle (Exit 69C) End detour Southbound Route 51 From southbound Route 19/51, take the ramp to 376 West/19 South toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport Bear left toward 19 South toward Banksville Road Bear left toward 376 East/51 South Merge onto Banksville Road Merge onto eastbound I-376 (Parkway West) Continue through the Fort Pitt Tunnel and across the Fort Pitt Bridge Take the ramp to Boulevard of the Allies/Liberty Avenue/PPG Arena (Exit 70A) Bear right onto Boulevard of the Allies Turn right to Route 19/51 toward Liberty Bridge Cross the Liberty Bridge and continue through the Liberty Tunnel Take the ramp to 51 South toward Uniontown End detour Truck detours: Northbound Route 51 From northbound Route 51, take the ramp to 579 toward Downtown/South Side Turn left onto Truck 19 South (West Liberty Avenue) toward Dormont Turn right onto Bower Hill Road Turn right onto Route 121 (Cochran Road) Bear right onto Green Tree Road toward 376/North 121 Take the ramp to 376 East toward Pittsburgh From eastbound I-376, take the ramp to Route 19/51 North toward the West End Circle (Exit 69C) End detour Southbound Route 51 From southbound Route 19/51, take the ramp to 376 West/19 South toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport Stay right to 376 West toward Carnegie/Airport Merge onto westbound I-376 (Parkway West) Take the ramp to Route 121 toward Green Tree/Crafton (Exit 67) Bear right toward Route 121 South toward Green Tree Follow Route 121 (Greentree Road) to Cochran Road Turn left onto Cochran Road (Route 121) Turn left onto Bower Hill Road Turn left onto Truck 19 North (West Liberty Avenue) Take the ramp to 51 South toward Uniontown End detour Crane Avenue and Woodruff Street will remain open during this demolition, PennDOT said.