Pittsburgh Parkway East closure timeline for bridge replacement

Drivers who use the Parkway East daily are familiar with the ongoing construction work near and around the Squirrel Hill Tunnel as crews work to build a new Commercial Street Bridge. Check out other questions we’ve answered for you by clicking here. The new bridge and its crews are hard to miss. The bridge is the giant green structure, right next to the old one, that construction crews have been working on for nearly two years. In a virtual meeting on the subject last month, PennDOT officials explained that the construction of the new bridge itself is complete, and crews are now working to install the bridge deck across it. How will the process of sliding the new bridge into place work? Once the deck installation is finished, crews will demolish the old bridge, clean up the rubble, and slide the new structure into place.The bridge weighs 22 million pounds and will be lifted into position using 42 jacks. The slide will span nearly 830 feet in length and 60 feet in height. PennDOT officials described the process, known as ABC, or Accelerated Bridge Construction, as innovative, adding that it significantly reduces the length and impact on the 100,000 drivers who use that portion of the Parkway daily. What time does the Parkway officially close on July 10? PennDOT has announced a full closure of the Parkway East in both directions starting at 9 p.m. on July 10 as part of the ongoing effort to replace the Commercial Street Bridge.What’s the timeline for the closure of Commercial Street? In addition to the Parkway East closure, Commercial Street, which runs under the bridge, will experience a brief closure in late June for a trial slide. It will then close in early July and remain closed through early August. Another closure of Commercial Street is planned for the fall, during which crews will return the roadway to its original position after reconfiguring it at the start of the project. Do you have questions about the project, the work or the detours? Send us an email at traffictip@wtae.com.FULL BREAKDOWN OF THE DETOURS: Click here

PITTSBURGH —

Drivers who use the Parkway East daily are familiar with the ongoing construction work near and around the Squirrel Hill Tunnel as crews work to build a new Commercial Street Bridge.

Check out other questions we’ve answered for you by clicking here.

The new bridge and its crews are hard to miss. The bridge is the giant green structure, right next to the old one, that construction crews have been working on for nearly two years.

In a virtual meeting on the subject last month, PennDOT officials explained that the construction of the new bridge itself is complete, and crews are now working to install the bridge deck across it.

How will the process of sliding the new bridge into place work?

Once the deck installation is finished, crews will demolish the old bridge, clean up the rubble, and slide the new structure into place.

The bridge weighs 22 million pounds and will be lifted into position using 42 jacks. The slide will span nearly 830 feet in length and 60 feet in height.

PennDOT officials described the process, known as ABC, or Accelerated Bridge Construction, as innovative, adding that it significantly reduces the length and impact on the 100,000 drivers who use that portion of the Parkway daily.

What time does the Parkway officially close on July 10?

PennDOT has announced a full closure of the Parkway East in both directions starting at 9 p.m. on July 10 as part of the ongoing effort to replace the Commercial Street Bridge.

What’s the timeline for the closure of Commercial Street?

In addition to the Parkway East closure, Commercial Street, which runs under the bridge, will experience a brief closure in late June for a trial slide. It will then close in early July and remain closed through early August.

Another closure of Commercial Street is planned for the fall, during which crews will return the roadway to its original position after reconfiguring it at the start of the project.

Do you have questions about the project, the work or the detours? Send us an email at traffictip@wtae.com.

FULL BREAKDOWN OF THE DETOURS: Click here