PITTSBURGH, PA — A major Pittsburgh highway is expected to face temporary closures and significant delays Wednesday and Thursday to advance an ongoing bridge project.
PennDOT is advising motorists that beam deliveries for the Commercial Street bridge replacement will occur Wednesday and Thursday. The beams are expected to arrive between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For deliveries to occur, large trucks will travel on southbound I-79, inbound on the Parkway West and inbound on the Parkway West to the plaza outside of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel.
Westbound traffic will experience intermittent traffic stoppages of as long as 15 minutes near the tunnel entrance to permit the trucks to cross lanes into the work area.
The arrival time is contingent depending on the travel distance, route traffic, and unforeseen obstacles. Motorists should expect delays. Additional beam deliveries will occur at later dates. Details will be provided prior to the deliveries.
The Commercial Street bridge replacement project will utilize Accelerated Bridge Construction Techniques to laterally slide the new bridge onto the existing alignment of the parkway, which would be one of the largest lateral slide projects performed in Pennsylvania.
The $95 million project located between the Edgewood/Swissvale interchange and Squirrel Hill Tunnel has included the temporary relocation of Commercial Street and the Nine Mile Run Trail below the bridge, the relocation of sanitary sewer lines, and portions of phased ITS work.
Work in 2025 includes the installation of new sign structures, temporary and permanent piers, abutments, and piles for temporary and permanent foundations, steel erection, and the continuation of phased ITS work.
In 2026, motorists can expect a 25-day full closure and detour of the parkway. The overall project is
anticipated to conclude in the summer of 2027.