WATCH: Debris falls from deck of old Commercial Street Bridge as replacement project begins
THERE, HEARING FROM SHOPPERS FORCED TO PLAY THE WAITING GAME. IT’S TAKEN US AN HOUR TO GO FROM THE BRIDGE TO THIS POINT. IT’S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ANOTHER HALF AN HOUR BEFORE WE MAKE IT UP TO THE LIGHTS. TRAFFIC BACKED UP FOR TWO HOURS FOR DRIVERS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WATERFRONT. SAYS 5 TO 6. WE WENT TO LONGHORN AND WAITED FOR MY SISTER AT 2:00 FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY. SHE DIDN’T ARRIVE UNTIL 4:00, SO SHE’S BACK THERE SOMEWHERE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY. SITTING FOR SO LONG, WE HAD TO GET OUT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, SO WE HAD TO GET OUT OF THE LINE AND THEN GO. WE WENT TO LOWE’S TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. SO NOW WE’RE BACK IN THE LINE. OR ABANDONING DRIVING ALTOGETHER. USUALLY I WOULD CATCH A BUS OR UBER, BUT IT’S THE TRAFFIC IS SO BAD COMING IN HERE, GETTING OUT OF HERE. IT’S JUST LONG WAITS. LIKE I’VE BEEN DOWN HERE FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS AFTER WORK. SO TRYING TO JUST GET HOME. HOMESTEAD, JUST ONE OF THE MANY DETOURS THAT 100,000 CARS ARE NOW TAKING DUE TO THE PARKWAY EAST CLOSURE AND CONSTRUCTION, THE RANKIN BRIDGE BACKED UP TO AND IN REGENT SQUARE THE SIDE STREETS, NOW BUSIER THAN RESIDENTS HAVE EVER SEEN. WHILE WE WERE SITTING HERE EATING, THE BUS CAME BY AND KNOCKED. SOMEBODY’S A PIECE OF SOMEBODY’S MIRROR OFF. NOT REALLY FOLLOWING THE RULES OF THE ROAD SO MUCH. I’VE BEEN. I FEEL LIKE I’VE BEEN ALMOST HIT LIKE THREE TIMES A DAY JUST TODAY, JUST ON A 20 MINUTE WALK. SATURDAY, JUST DAY ONE OF THE 25 DAY CLOSURE. AND RESIDENTS ARE URGING DRIVERS TO BE CAREFUL AND PATIENT AS THIS GOES ON. IT’S ALL RIGHT TO SIT IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. IT’S NOT ALL RIGHT TO SHOOT DOWN THE SIDE STREETS OR GO DOWN WHERE YOU CAN HIT A KID ON A BIKE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO JUST I HOPE PEOPLE WILL BE PATIENT AND JUST PUT UP WITH IT. FELICITY. THANK YOU. NOW, IN ORDER TO GET THE PROJECT DONE IN JUST 25 DAYS, PENNDOT CREWS ARE WORKING UNDER A TIGHT SCHEDULE. MUCH OF THAT WILL CONTINUE AROUND THE CLOCK. THE DECK OF THE OLD BRIDGE IS COMING OFF FIRST FOR. CREWS WILL WORK ON 12 HOUR SHIFTS AROUND THE CLOCK FOR THAT JOB, AND ALL THE DEBRIS WILL BE PUSHED ASIDE TO MAKE WAY FOR THE EVENTUAL SIDE OF THE NEW BRIDGE. NEXT WILL COME THE IMPLOSION. PENNDOT SAYS IT WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO DAYS TO PLACE THE EXPLOSIVE CHARGES INTO PRE-DRILLED HOLES. THE IMPLOSION IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE SOMETIME THIS WEEK. THE OLD BRIDGE WILL BE WRAPPED TO AVOID DAMAGING THE NEW ONE. SUPPORTS FOR THE NEW BRIDGE ARE ALREADY IN PLACE AT THE SITE, AND A PATH WILL BE CLEARED TO SLIDE IT ABOUT 102FT INTO PLACE. CREWS ARE ALSO WORKING TO CONSTRUCT NEW APPROACHES TO THE BRIDGE. THEN THEY’LL HAVE TO FINISH THE ROAD SURFACE AND WHEN THE PARKWAY REOPENS, ALL OF THE DEBRIS NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. COMMERCIAL STREET UNDER THE BRIDGE WILL REOPEN, AND 5000 NEW TREES WILL BE PLANTED NEXT SPRING. AND WITH NO TRAFFIC ON THE PARKWAY OR IN THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNEL, PENNDOT WILL ALSO USE THE TIME FOR SOME OTHER PROJECTS. WORK WILL BE DONE ON THE EXPANSION DAMS AT THE EDGEWOOD SWISSVALE INTERCHANGE. THE SQUIRREL HILL TUNNEL WILL BE PAVED AND FOUNDATIONS WILL BE SET FOR NEW STREET LIGHTS TO BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE TUNNEL AND THE TURNPIKE IN MONROEVILLE. ON TOP OF ALL THAT, THERE WILL BE A TRAINING EXERCISE IN THE CLOSED TUNNEL FOR SAFETY CREWS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. AGAIN, THAT FIRST REAL TEST OF THE CLOSURE DOES COME TOMORROW. PENNDOT IS ADVISING DRIVERS TO PREPLAN THEIR ROUTES. WE ARE EXPECTING OFFICIALS TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE PROJECT TOMORROW. FOR NOW, YOU CAN SEE UPDATES AND DETOURS ON O
WATCH: Debris falls from deck of old Commercial Street Bridge as replacement project begins
Updated: 1:56 PM EDT Jul 12, 2026
The Parkway East is closed, and work has begun to demolish the old Commercial Street Bridge in Allegheny County. On Saturday and Sunday, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 was there as the deck of the old bridge started to be broken apart and removed. This is the first step in the process, with crews working on 12-hour shifts around the clock to remove the deck. Watch video of deck demolition belowAll of the debris will then be pushed aside to make way for the eventual slide of the new bridge. PennDOT said after the deck is removed, explosive charges will be placed into pre-drilled holes to further demolish the preexisting structure. Officials said the old bridge will be wrapped to avoid damaging the new one. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
The Parkway East is closed, and work has begun to demolish the old Commercial Street Bridge in Allegheny County.
On Saturday and Sunday, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 was there as the deck of the old bridge started to be broken apart and removed. This is the first step in the process, with crews working on 12-hour shifts around the clock to remove the deck.
Watch video of deck demolition below
All of the debris will then be pushed aside to make way for the eventual slide of the new bridge.
PennDOT said after the deck is removed, explosive charges will be placed into pre-drilled holes to further demolish the preexisting structure. Officials said the old bridge will be wrapped to avoid damaging the new one.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.