After two years of trying, the city has cobbled together a complex $15 million financial package to upgrade about one mile of congested East Carson Street/Route 837 near the SouthSide Works development.

Construction is to begin this fall to widen the street to four lanes and provide turning lanes at seven signalized intersections from 25th Street to a half-mile west of Becks Run Road. The project also will mean new sidewalks, street lights, trees and landscaping.

Pennsylvania U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey are to hold a news conference Monday morning at the SouthSide Works Cinema to announce $1,225,000 in special federal funding to complete the financial package.

While the money represents less than 10 percent of the cost, "it's an important piece of the pie," said John Coyne, engineering and construction director for the city Urban Redevelopment Authority, which is donating two acres at the old brownfield site to provide right-of-way for the widening.

"We wanted to do this work in 2006," he said, "but we were unable to come up with sufficient federal funds" in the region's Transportation Improvement Program, which governs highway, bridge and transit spending.

The URA's land donation will count toward the local share of costs, as will the replacement of an old 20-inch water main by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. Another $3 million will come from the Governor's Economic Development Discretionary Fund.

The URA paid the 20 percent local share used to match 80 percent federal money spent to design and engineer the project.

Officials said the East Carson Street widening will improve safety for pedestrians as well as help with traffic on the busy thoroughfare, where economic development has mushroomed over the past four years.