Drivers in Homestead experienced hourslong traffic delays on Saturday as the closure of the Parkway East, combined with viewing of the Big Boy locomotive, forced 100,000 vehicles onto detours, creating gridlock throughout the area. “It’s taken us an hour to get to the bridge from this point. Probably going to be another half an hour before we make it up to the lights,” said Nicole Vantine, a rideshare driver. Traffic in the Waterfront shopping center was backed up for two hours, with some drivers stuck for extended periods. “Traffic is 5 to 6. We went to a Longhorn and waited for my sister at 2 for a birthday party. She didn’t arrive till 4. So, she’s back there somewhere. This is absolutely crazy,” one driver said. Others even left their vehicles to find restrooms. “We had to get out to go to the bathrooms. We had to get on the line and then go. We went to Lowe’s to go to the bathroom. So, now we’re back in the line,” said Riley Sheposh of White Oak. Some commuters opted to avoid driving altogether. “Usually I catch a bus or Uber. But it’s the traffic so bad coming in here, getting out of here. Just long waits. It’s like, I’ve been down here for about two hours after work, so I’m trying to get home,” said Antwon Manson from Rankin. Homestead was just one of many detours affected by the closure, with the Rankin Bridge also experiencing significant backups. In Regent Square, side streets were busier than ever, according to residents. “While we were sitting here eating, a bus came by and knocked a piece of someone’s mirror off,” said Kip Treganowan from Churchill. “Not really following the rules of the road so much. I feel like I’ve been almost hit, like, three times a day. Just today, just on a 20-minute walk,” said Eli Savage from Regent Square. Saturday marked the first day of the 25-day closure, and residents are urging drivers to remain cautious and patient. “It’s all right to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic. It’s not all right to shoot down the side streets where you could hit a kid on a bike or something like that. So I just, I hope people will be patient, just put up with it,” said Scott Smith of Edgewood. As the weekend ends, residents are preparing for Monday, when the return to work is expected to bring even more congestion.

HOMESTEAD, Pa. —

Drivers in Homestead experienced hourslong traffic delays on Saturday as the closure of the Parkway East, combined with viewing of the Big Boy locomotive, forced 100,000 vehicles onto detours, creating gridlock throughout the area.

“It’s taken us an hour to get to the bridge from this point. Probably going to be another half an hour before we make it up to the lights,” said Nicole Vantine, a rideshare driver.

Traffic in the Waterfront shopping center was backed up for two hours, with some drivers stuck for extended periods.

“Traffic is 5 to 6. We went to a Longhorn and waited for my sister at 2 for a birthday party. She didn’t arrive till 4. So, she’s back there somewhere. This is absolutely crazy,” one driver said.

Others even left their vehicles to find restrooms.

“We had to get out to go to the bathrooms. We had to get on the line and then go. We went to Lowe’s to go to the bathroom. So, now we’re back in the line,” said Riley Sheposh of White Oak.

Some commuters opted to avoid driving altogether.

“Usually I catch a bus or Uber. But it’s the traffic so bad coming in here, getting out of here. Just long waits. It’s like, I’ve been down here for about two hours after work, so I’m trying to get home,” said Antwon Manson from Rankin.

Homestead was just one of many detours affected by the closure, with the Rankin Bridge also experiencing significant backups. In Regent Square, side streets were busier than ever, according to residents.

“While we were sitting here eating, a bus came by and knocked a piece of someone’s mirror off,” said Kip Treganowan from Churchill.

“Not really following the rules of the road so much. I feel like I’ve been almost hit, like, three times a day. Just today, just on a 20-minute walk,” said Eli Savage from Regent Square.

Saturday marked the first day of the 25-day closure, and residents are urging drivers to remain cautious and patient.

“It’s all right to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic. It’s not all right to shoot down the side streets where you could hit a kid on a bike or something like that. So I just, I hope people will be patient, just put up with it,” said Scott Smith of Edgewood.

As the weekend ends, residents are preparing for Monday, when the return to work is expected to bring even more congestion.