The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is set to open a ramp providing a long-sought direct connection from Fifth Avenue to the Boulevard of the Allies.

For the first time next Wednesday morning, drivers heading from Oakland toward Downtown and the Parkway East inbound won't have to zig-zag from one-way Fifth Avenue to two-way Craft Avenue to a contra-flow lane on Forbes Avenue to reach the boulevard.

Instead, they'll be able to continue an extra two blocks on Fifth to a new left-turn lane leading to the new "slip ramp" to the boulevard, the first phase of PennDOT's two-year, $29 million reconstruction of the outdated, convoluted intersection into a smoother, safer, more attractive "gateway" to the city's medical, educational and cultural centers.

The short, contra-flow lane on Forbes will be forever closed.

Contractors have been working on the project since April 2, tearing down a few structures that stood in the way of the improvements, excavating, relocating utilities, building retaining walls and, finally, building curbs, sidewalks and the new ramp.

Although traffic through the South Oakland work zone is heavy, congestion during the first phase of construction was not as bad as some officials had feared.

That is likely to change soon.

On Jan. 3, PennDOT will close the Boulevard of the Allies through the work zone and the "south ramp" that exits onto Forbes Avenue to start the second phase of the project. It includes demolishing the badly deteriorated existing boulevard bridge and replacing it with a new span with aesthetic features worked out with Oakland community groups.

"Multiple traffic detours and restrictions will be in place," PennDOT said in a special message sent to Oakland transportation managers and civic groups.

The message urged interested parties to attend a "Commuting Alternatives Resource Fair/Public Meeting" to be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 12 at the University of Pittsburgh's Alumni Hall. "Don't be in the dark when it comes to your commuting options," it warned. PennDOT will announce detours and alternate routes at the meeting.

More information and visual images of the project are available at www.otma-pgh.org.