Downtown

Four New Work Zones Being Added to University Line Construction

Pittsburgh Regional Transit will add four new work locations in downtown Pittsburgh next week.

Last winter, the PRT contractor relocated water and drainage infrastructure at most of the future PRTX station locations. Currently, the contractors are installing foundations and poles for traffic signals and pedestrian lighting. They’re also restoring the roadway, sidewalks, and curbs. Later this summer, bus shelters, accessible ramps, traffic signals and lighting will be installed.

On May 28, PRT’s contractor will establish two additional work sites. The first one is on Sixth Avenue between Smithfield Street and William Penn Place. The second one is on Fifth Avenue between Liberty Avenue and Market Street opposite the current work site.

Traffic on Sixth Avenue between Smithfield Street and William Penn Place will be maintained with one travel lane in each direction (see image above). This single-lane operation will remain in effect 24/7 until late fall.

Mellon Square Garage will be accessible to vehicles and pedestrians. The sidewalk will remain open opposite the work site.

Additionally, construction activities on Fifth Avenue between Liberty Avenue and Market Street will move to the opposite side of the street adjacent to Triangle Park.

To accommodate this new work area, vehicle traffic will be shifted to the opposite side of Fifth Avenue between Liberty Avenue and Market (see image above).

The construction detour will remain in effect 24/7 until work is finished late this fall. The sidewalk will remain open opposite the work site.

On May 31, the contractor will establish two more work sites along Fifth Avenue: one between Smithfield and Grant streets, and the other between Sixth Avenue and Ross Street.

To accommodate the new work area, traffic on Fifth Avenue will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between Smithfield and Grant streets (see image above). This single-lane operation will remain in effect 24/7 until late fall. The sidewalk will remain open on Fifth Avenue opposite the work site.

Additionally, traffic on Fifth Avenue will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between Ross Street and Sixth Avenue (see image above). This single-lane operation will remain in effect 24/7 until late fall. The sidewalk will remain open opposite the work site.

Construction to Continue at Sixth Avenue and Diamond Street Next Week

Earlier this week, the PRT contractor established a new work zone on Sixth Avenue between Fifth Avenue and Diamond Street adjacent to the Allegheny County Family Division building.

Work in this area will include installation of foundations for traffic signals and pedestrian lighting followed by replacement of sidewalks and curbs.

To accommodate the new worksite, traffic on Sixth Avenue will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between Fifth Avenue and Diamond Street. The traffic detour will remain in place 24/7 until late fall.

Construction Activities to Continue at Sixth and Grant Next Week

Last week, the PRT contractor established a new work zone on Sixth Avenue between Grant and Ross Streets.

The electrical subcontractor will be installing conduit for the new bus shelter, pouring a foundation for a new traffic signal, and relocating existing lighting. After the electrical work is complete, the contractor will be replacing the sidewalk, roadway, and granite curbs.

Later this summer, the contractor will install two new 60-foot bus shelters, accessible ramps, and traffic signals.

Westbound I-376 Ramp to Northbound Boulevard of the Allies Overnight Closures

PennDOT District 11 is announcing overnight closures of the westbound I-376 (Parkway East) ramp to northbound Boulevard of the Allies (Route 885) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will begin Monday night, April 1 weather permitting.

Overnight closures of the ramp carrying traffic from westbound (inbound) I-376 (Parkway East) to I-579 Boulevard of the Allies/Liberty Bridge (Exit 72B) will occur weeknights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as needed through the end of 2024 as crews conduct concrete deck overlay work, concrete repairs, drainage improvements, bridge painting, and other miscellaneous construction activities. Ramp traffic will be detoured. 

I-376 Westbound to the Boulevard of the Allies/Liberty Bridge

From westbound (inbound) I-376, continue past the closed ramp

Take the Grant Street (Exit 71A) left-hand off-ramp

Follow Grant Street to the Boulevard of the Allies

To continue to the Liberty Bridge, turn right onto the Boulevard of the Allies

Turn right onto the ramp to the Liberty Bridge

End detour

I-376 Westbound to Northbound I-579

From westbound (inbound) I-376, continue past the closed ramp

Take the Grant Street (Exit 71A) left-hand off-ramp

From Grant Street, turn right onto Seventh Avenue

Take the ramp to North 579/East 380 toward PPG Arena/Bigelow Boulevard

Take the left-hand ramp to North 579/East 380 toward Veterans Bridge/Bigelow Boulevard

Take the ramp to North 579 toward the Veterans Bridge

End detour

Preservation work on two mainline Route 885 Boulevard of the Allies bridges and several ramps at the interchange are included in this $44.90 million project. Work will include bridge deck repairs and overlays, expansion dam replacements, steel superstructure and substructure repairs, bearing replacements, full painting, concrete substructure repairs, downspout replacements, drainage repairs, signing and pavement parking upgrades and other miscellaneous construction activities. Motorists will encounter short term lane closures, night and weekend closures of the ramps and Route 885 in each direction, weekend lane restrictions, and overnight directional closures of I-376 Parkway East, long-term closures of Forbes Avenue, Brady Street, and ramps at the Birmingham Bridge. Short-term and weeknight lane closures of Second Avenue are also included throughout this multi-year project.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 860 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.