Wabash Tunnel may provide relief during McArdle closure
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Pittsburgh and Port Authority are discussing whether to lift the high occupancy vehicle restrictions in the Wabash Tunnel while McArdle Roadway remains closed by a landslide.
The former railroad tunnel has drawn little traffic since it was renovated and opened to cars in December 2004. Traffic flows one way inbound during the morning rush and one way outbound at most other times.
"We're working with the city to see if it's possible to safely use this facility with higher volumes of traffic as a temporary means of helping local residents and motorists. These discussions are currently under way," Port Authority spokesman Jim Ritchie said.
McArdle Roadway, a principal access route to Mount Washington, has been closed since Jan. 9 when a large section of the sloped hillside above it gave way.
Rob Kaczorowski, city public works director, estimated this week that construction of a retaining wall will take about two to three weeks. He said the city asked Port Authority to lift the car pool regulations in the tunnel temporarily until the road is reopened.
The Wabash Tunnel connects Woodruff Street, a short distance from Saw Mill Run Boulevard, to West Carson Street. It is owned by the Port Authority but no transit service uses it. The authority acquired it as part of its 1970s Skybus mass transit project that never went forward. It was used for a time to store old buses.
It is considered too narrow to safely accommodate two-way traffic.
The HOV regulations are in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays, when the traffic flow is inbound. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., all drivers can use the tunnel inbound. It closes daily from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for reversal of the traffic flow, then opens to HOV-2 traffic only from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. From 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., all traffic can use the tunnel outbound.
The tunnel also is open to all traffic from 7 p.m. Fridays until 5 a.m. Mondays in the outbound direction.
First Published February 3, 2012 12:00 am
