Get the Facts: Could dish soap aid in Pittsburgh bridge installation?

The closure of the Parkway East is just eight days away, and all eyes are narrowing in on the crews who will demolish the old Commercial Street Bridge and slide the new one in its place. Crews tested the equipment last week over a span of two days. During that time, PennDOT officials and crew members answered questions about the timeline and the process for that slide. Could crews use Dawn dish soap to aid in bridge installation? It may seem like a silly question, but the practice of using Dawn dish soap to aid in construction projects is nothing new. “That has been done in the past, yes. On smaller slides,” said Jason Zang, PennDOT District 11 executive during a press conference late last month. Experts say dish soap, specifically Dawn, can act as an eco-friendly lubricant that would reduce friction as crews slide heavy materials, including bridges, into place. Zang explained that grease is the more likely option for this particular project because of the size and scope of the bridge, but noted that dish soap could be considered if needed. “I don’t know if they’re using dish soap. I know they’re using grease. So yeah, they might be, I mean, we’re again, that’s part of the test slide. Right. That’s they’re probably maybe considering that if things don’t slide as easy as they’d like them to, there’s a lot of options there,” Zang said. 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 —

The closure of the Parkway East is just eight days away, and all eyes are narrowing in on the crews who will demolish the old Commercial Street Bridge and slide the new one in its place.

Crews tested the equipment last week over a span of two days. During that time, PennDOT officials and crew members answered questions about the timeline and the process for that slide.

Could crews use Dawn dish soap to aid in bridge installation?

It may seem like a silly question, but the practice of using Dawn dish soap to aid in construction projects is nothing new.

“That has been done in the past, yes. On smaller slides,” said Jason Zang, PennDOT District 11 executive during a press conference late last month.

Experts say dish soap, specifically Dawn, can act as an eco-friendly lubricant that would reduce friction as crews slide heavy materials, including bridges, into place.

Zang explained that grease is the more likely option for this particular project because of the size and scope of the bridge, but noted that dish soap could be considered if needed.

“I don’t know if they’re using dish soap. I know they’re using grease. So yeah, they might be, I mean, we’re again, that’s part of the test slide. Right. That’s they’re probably maybe considering that if things don’t slide as easy as they’d like them to, there’s a lot of options there,” Zang said.

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