YES, IN A COUPLE OF DAYS, DRIVERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THIS BRIDGE BEHIND ME. PENNDOT IS CLOSING DOWN THE MCKEESPORT DUQUESNE BRIDGE UNTIL APRIL. THE HEAVILY TRAVELED MCKEESPORT DUQUESNE BRIDGE IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY IS SHUTTING DOWN FOR WEEKS, CAUSING FRUSTRATION FOR DRIVERS. PITTSBURGH IS ALREADY HARD ENOUGH TO GET AROUND. I DO SUBCONTRACTED WORK. I SERVICE ALL FOUR HILLS, SO ANY TIME THAT’S ADDED TO MAKE THE TRAVEL MORE DIFFICULT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE OF A BURDEN TO DRIVE IN PITTSBURGH. THE ROAD CARRIES SOUTH DUQUESNE BOULEVARD OVER THE MONONGAHELA RIVER, CONNECTING THE TWO COMMUNITIES OF MCKEESPORT AND DUQUESNE. PENNDOT SAYS CREWS ARE REMOVING BARRIERS, PLACING CONCRETE SHOULDERS AND DOING MORE WORK FOR THIS PROJECT. PENNDOT SAYS IT MAY BE INCONVENIENT, BUT WORK ON THE BRIDGE IS NEEDED. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BRIDGE, IT’S OBVIOUSLY IN NEED OF REPAIR. BOTH THE BRIDGE DECK UNDERNEATH AND THE STEEL ITSELF. THIS CLOSURE THAT WE’RE DOING NOW IS PREPARATORY WORK FOR ALL THAT WORK THAT’S TO COME OVER THE NEXT REALLY THREE YEARS. THIS IS THE FIRST PHASE OF A LONG TERM PROJECT WITH THE BRIDGE CLOSING AROUND THE CLOCK. BUT THERE ARE DETOURS GOING FROM KENNYWOOD OVER THE RANKIN BRIDGE THROUGH BRADDOCK. AND TOWARD EAST PITTSBURGH. THOSE ROUTES, WHILE THEY ARE LONG AND EXTENSIVE, IT’S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH GETTING ACROSS THE RIVERS IN OUR IN OUR AREA. EVERYTHING ABOUT PITTSBURGH IS DIFFICULT, SO ANY DETOURS THAT ARE ADDED MAKES IT JUST THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. WHAT ABOUT THE POTHOLES? OH MY GOD. AND THE BRICK ROADS. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR HEARD FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTHOLES ON THE DETOURS. SO WE ASKED THE SENIOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER ABOUT THE PROJECT. HE SAYS CREWS ARE PATCHING THE POTHOLES FOR A SMOOTHER RIDE. WE ARE AWARE OF THOSE AND SOME OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS. WE’RE GOING TO BE PATCHING THOSE AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEM. NOW THE SIDEWALKS WILL BE OPEN ON THE BRIDGE FOR PEDESTRIANS, BUT THAT BRIDGE WILL BE COMPLETELY CLOSED TO DRIVERS UNTIL APRIL 7TH. IF YOU WANT A FULL LIST OF THOSE DETOURS, JUST LOG ON TO OUR

PennDOT has announced a full closure of the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge, starting this weekend.The bridge closure is set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and continue through April 7, as the first part of a long-term project.The bridge carries South Duquesne Boulevard over the Monongahela River, connecting McKeesport with Duquesne.”If you look at the bridge, it’s obviously in need of repair, both the bridge deck underneath and the steel itself,” said John Myler, a senior construction manager with PennDOT. “This closure that we are doing now is preparatory work for all that work that is to come for the next, really, three years.”Construction crews will be working on barrier removal, concrete shoulder placement and bridge containment installation during this first phase.Although the bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic, sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.DETOURS FOR MCKEESPORT-DUQUESNE BRIDGEPennDOT says these are the posted detours for traffic during the bridge closure.From north of the bridge:Take Route 837 (South Duquesne Boulevard) northboundSouth Duquesne Boulevard becomes Kennywood BoulevardKennywood Boulevard becomes River RoadFrom the left lane, take the ramp to 376 toward Rankin Bridge/SwissvaleTurn right at the light and cross the Rankin BridgeTake the Rankin/Braddock rampTurn left onto Braddock AvenueTurn right onto East Pittsburgh McKeesport BoulevardEast Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard becomes Bowman AvenueFollow Bowman Avenue to the McKeesport-Duquesne BridgeFrom south of the bridge:Take Route 148 (Fifth Avenue) northboundTurn left onto Route 30 (Lincoln Highway)Turn left onto Navy-Marine Corps WayTurn right onto East Pittsburgh McKeesport BoulevardTurn left onto Braddock AvenueBraddock Avenue becomes Kenmawr AvenueTurn right onto the ramp to the Rankin BridgeCross the Rankin Bridge to Route 837Turn left onto Route 837 (River Road)River Road becomes Kennywood BoulevardKennywood Boulevard becomes South Duquesne BoulevardFollow South Duquesne Boulevard back to the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge

MCKEESPORT, Pa. —

PennDOT has announced a full closure of the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge, starting this weekend.

The bridge closure is set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and continue through April 7, as the first part of a long-term project.

The bridge carries South Duquesne Boulevard over the Monongahela River, connecting McKeesport with Duquesne.

“If you look at the bridge, it’s obviously in need of repair, both the bridge deck underneath and the steel itself,” said John Myler, a senior construction manager with PennDOT. “This closure that we are doing now is preparatory work for all that work that is to come for the next, really, three years.”

Construction crews will be working on barrier removal, concrete shoulder placement and bridge containment installation during this first phase.

Although the bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic, sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians.

Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.

DETOURS FOR MCKEESPORT-DUQUESNE BRIDGE

PennDOT says these are the posted detours for traffic during the bridge closure.

From north of the bridge:

Take Route 837 (South Duquesne Boulevard) northboundSouth Duquesne Boulevard becomes Kennywood BoulevardKennywood Boulevard becomes River RoadFrom the left lane, take the ramp to 376 toward Rankin Bridge/SwissvaleTurn right at the light and cross the Rankin BridgeTake the Rankin/Braddock rampTurn left onto Braddock AvenueTurn right onto East Pittsburgh McKeesport BoulevardEast Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard becomes Bowman AvenueFollow Bowman Avenue to the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge

From south of the bridge:

Take Route 148 (Fifth Avenue) northboundTurn left onto Route 30 (Lincoln Highway)Turn left onto Navy-Marine Corps WayTurn right onto East Pittsburgh McKeesport BoulevardTurn left onto Braddock AvenueBraddock Avenue becomes Kenmawr AvenueTurn right onto the ramp to the Rankin BridgeCross the Rankin Bridge to Route 837Turn left onto Route 837 (River Road)River Road becomes Kennywood BoulevardKennywood Boulevard becomes South Duquesne BoulevardFollow South Duquesne Boulevard back to the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge