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Getting Around: Construction Guide
Sunday, August 27, 2000 By Joe Grata, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE
Maintenance work and most construction are to be suspended Thursday afternoon for the Labor Day holiday weekend.
As usual, the toll road promises to be heavily traveled, especially the mountainous, 86-mile stretch that doubles as I-70 between New Stanton and Breezewood. Expect delays around those interchanges, Cranberry (No. 3) and Gateway (No. 1) at the Ohio line.
Use caution east of New Stanton. Although two lanes are being maintained in both directions through a construction zone, the area has had accidents, backups and unannounced restrictions since spring, all connected to pavement problems.
Late afternoon and early evening are worst times to travel the toll road Friday and Monday. Extra state police will be on duty, so watch your speed.
Resurfacing on six miles between Allegheny Valley (No. 5) and Butler Valley (No. 4) interchanges in off-peak hours through mid-September.
Otherwise, look for lane shifts, weekday maintenance restrictions, throughout system. Information: (800) 331-3414 or www.paturnpike.com.
INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS
I-279 -- PennDOT has shut off access to the Fort Duquesne Bridge from the Parkway East, Fort Pitt Boulevard and Commonwealth Place. The northbound I-279 connection from Fort Pitt Bridge to Fort Duquesne Bridge also is closed, along with exit ramps to 10th Street Bypass and Fort Duquesne Boulevard. Primary detour is Parkway West to Route 51 North to West End Bridge. The only way to reach the Fort Duquesne Bridge outbound is from Fort Duquesne Boulevard or the 10th Street Bypass. Traffic delays possible through the Golden Triangle. See Web site: www.epenndot.com.
I-70 -- Repairs on Smithton High-Level Bridge in Westmoreland County. One lane open each direction. Traffic slow, watch for long backups during peak travel times over the Labor Day weekend.
I-79 -- Work on six miles between Exits 7 and 5, south of Washington, Pa. Five bridges also are being replaced. Traffic crossed to one side -- single lane in each direction.
Lane closes between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. through Friday for construction of a Route 228 overpass in Cranberry, north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Also, work north of I-90 in Erie County.
I-80 -- Single-lane between Exits 11 and 13 around Clarion-Jefferson county line.
Interstate info hotline: (888) 783-6783.
FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS
Route 30 -- Work from Beatty Road to the Route 981 intersection, past Saint Vincent College. One lane each direction.
Route 19 -- One lane between Route 528 and Zelienople. Majority of work should be finished this week. Remaining work will be performed with daylight traffic patterns.
Route 22 -- One lane each direction for interchange work at Route 66, Delmont. Ramps have opened; all traffic signals are operational. PennDOT expects to restore all lanes of traffic in two or three weeks. Web site, www.route22.penndot. state.pa.us.
Route 65 -- The $3.8 million reconstruction project in Ambridge continues through the current construction season.
Route 119 -- East of New Stanton to Route 31, single-lane restrictions past Sony Industrial Park.
Route 422 -- Traffic east of Kittanning channeled onto a temporary road for the $39 million Kittanning Bypass project. Web site: www.a15project.com.
STATE HIGHWAYS
Route 8 -- PennDOT has awarded a $700,000 contract to resurface 2.3 miles between Saxonburg Boulevard and Butler Plank Road, Shaler. Work to start soon.
885/837 -- PennDOT repairing the interchange at Hays at the same time it's part of a detour for the closed Glenwood Bridge. Work to last through mid-October.
Route 981 -- Bridge carrying 981 over the Turnpike in Westmoreland County closed through August.
Route 228 -- Numerous lane closings, other restrictions associated with widening the Route 228 overpass of I-79. Plan for slow going.
Route 18 -- One lane in each direction in the Monaca area, affecting Beaver Valley Mall traffic.
Route 56 -- Patching, repairs to start this week in Allegheny Township, between Vandergrift and Leechburg Road.
Route 819 -- Traffic is single file, one way at a time, in East Huntingdon, north of Route 119 in the Mount Pleasant area.
BRIDGES
Ravensburg Bridge -- One of Clairton's main thoroughfares, whose closing was postponed last week, is to close this week for 16 months for a $7 million repair project between Route 885 and the municipal building. Main detour follows St. Clair Avenue, State Street (Route 837) and Walnut Avenue.
Hulton Bridge -- Closed for resurfacing and structural repairs from 10 p.m. Fridays through 6 a.m. Mondays until the end of September, except for Labor Day weekend.
Glenwood Bridge -- Closed through September. Both detours use Route 837, one south to the Homestead High-Level Bridge and Parkway East, the other north to East Carson Street and the 10th Street Bridge.
Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge -- Has reopened after $1.3 million renovation. However, contractor will be allowed to restrict traffic to one lane during the day for an extra month, as needed.
LOCAL/COUNTY ROADS
Fort Duquesne Boulevard -- Roberto Clemente (Sixth Street) Memorial Bridge will be closed to inbound traffic four to six weeks starting Wednesday as a result of PNC Park work at north end of span. Also on Wednesday, Seventh Street Bridge will be reopened in both directions. Relocated Fort Duquesne Boulevard westbound lanes now open from Ninth Street Bridge to Stanwix Street, but eastbound side closed through winter. Also, boulevard between 10th Street and Garrison Way is now closed for expansion at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Seventh Street Bridge traffic is inbound-only. Web site: www.fortduqblvd.com.
Boulevard of the Allies -- City water authority, contractor working overnight, starting as early as 7 p.m. weekdays, between Commonwealth Place and Grant Street, Downtown. Traffic being maintained.
Forward Avenue -- Stretch south of Frick Park closed through April 2001. Detour is via Parkway East.
Campbells Run Road -- Closed between Highland Avenue and Nowell Street, Carnegie. Detour via West Main Street and I-79.
North Side -- Four lanes reduced to two around Allegheny Center Mall. Metered on-street parking prohibited. Connections to, from East Ohio Street also restricted.
Tri-Boro Expressway -- Single lane restrictions in south Monroeville, Turtle Creek and East Pittsburgh.
Beaver Grade Road -- Road reconstruction, utility replacements have closed Beaver Grade Road to Coraopolis Heights Road in Moon.
SPECIAL TRAFFIC NOTES
Back to school -- Schools are resuming, so police are advising drivers to be on alert for school buses and students. The speed limit through school zones is 15 mph. Violations of traffic laws around schools and buses can bring hefty fines and a suspension of your driver's license.
Pitt football -- The Port Authority is offering special service on nine different bus routes to games at Three Rivers Stadium, starting with the home opener against Kent State on Saturday. Visit Web site, www.ridegold.com or call 442-2000 for more information.
Three Rivers Stadium -- The only way to reach the outbound, upper deck of Fort Duquesne Bridge is via Fort Duquesne Boulevard and 10th Street Bypass. Use West End, Sixth Street and Ninth Street Bridges. Use Allegheny Center Mall, Strip District, Station Square for parking. Plan for delays, some confusion, parking problems. Consider parking at Pittsburgh Parking Authority-operated garages ($3) or the Mon Wharf ($2). Consider transit; utilize "Resources" in this column.
Oakland -- University of Pittsburgh building construction has closed Oakland Avenue and part of Bouquet Street near the Forbes Quadrangle. Southbound traffic on Bouquet not affected.
SPECIAL TRAFFIC NOTES
Bus reroutings -- Because of changes in Fort Duquesne Boulevard work and bridge traffic, these bus routes will change traffic routes tomorrow: 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F, 13C, 13D, 13F, 14C, 16A, 16D, 16U, 500 and 501. The 13X route will be detoured for the first time due to the project. With reopening of the Seventh Street Bridge to two-way traffic this week, regular routing will go into effect on 1A, 1B, 1C, 6C, 6D, 13A, 13B, 13G and 13H routes. Expect delays in travel times. Some stops will be changed.
"T" service -- Light-rail service suspended through today between Mt. Lebanon Station and South Hills Junction because of expansion at Fallowfield Station, Beechview. Shuttle buses in operation. Regular T service resumes tomorrow morning.
West Busway -- Sept. 8 marks the official opening of the five-mile, buses-only road between Carnegie and West Carson Street, providing an alternative route for transit to escape Parkway West and Fort Pitt Tunnel congestion.
South Busway -- Reconstruction of the Overbrook trolley line has closed the South Busway between Glenbury and Whited streets. Eleven bus routes accessing the busway via temporary ramps off Whited Street.
RESOURCES
Post-Gazette Web site -- www.post-gazette.com
Port Authority information -- (412) 442-2000
Port Authority Web site -- www.ridegold.com
Car-van pool information -- (412) 471-POOL
Airport Corridor Transportation Assn. -- (412) 788-1199
Pittsburgh Parking Authority -- (412) 560-PARK
Parking Authority Web site www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/pghparkingauthority
Pennsylvania Turnpike -- (800) 331-3414
Turnpike Web site www.paturnpike.com
Interstate Information Hotline -- (888) 783-6783
PennDOT Pothole Hotline -- (800) FIX-ROAD
PennDOT Web site www.penndotpgh.com
Allegheny Trail Alliance - www.atatrail.org
Coming to Pittsburgh? -- www.visitpittsburgh.com
Amtrak Web site www.amtrak.com
Maglev Web site www.maglevpa.com
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers www.lrp.usace.army.mil
Duquesne Incline Web sitewww.incline.cc
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