Drivers preparing for backups in Oakmont during Hulton Road railroad crossing work
OAKMONT, Pa. —
A busy Oakmont intersection is closed to traffic for the next several days.
The Hulton Road crossing between Allegheny River Boulevard and Allegheny Avenue closed Thursday at 8 p.m. for railroad crossing repair work.
“It’s going to be a pain for a week, but it is what it is,” Oakmont resident Eric Odinski said.
The around-the-clock closure will last until 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
“It will impact me because I do travel to work – particularly Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. So, I’ll have to just be cognizant of it,” John McTiernan told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Reporter Jordan Cioppa.
McTiernan, who frequently travels on the Hulton Bridge, was prepared to see extra time added to his commute.
“I mean, you still have to cross the bridge unless you really want to go way out of your way, but I think that I leave early enough in the morning that it shouldn’t impact the commute to work. Coming home, it will be a problem,” McTiernan said.
According to PennDOT, cars west of the closure should follow the detour below:
From Hulton Road, turn right onto Allegheny Avenue Turn left onto College Avenue Turn right onto Allegheny River Boulevard Turn left onto Plum Street Plum Street becomes Hunter Road Turn left onto Hamil Road Turn right onto Indiana Road Turn left onto Hulton Road Continue to the intersection with Hulton Road/Coxcomb Hill Road Turn left onto Hulton Road Continue to the intersection with Allegheny River Boulevard End detour
Trucks west of the closure will also turn right onto Allegheny Avenue but will follow a different detour after they reach Allegheny River Boulevard. The full detour is as follows:
From Hulton Road, turn right onto Allegheny Avenue Turn left onto College Avenue Turn right onto Allegheny River Boulevard Turn left onto Sandy Creek Road (Route 130) Turn left onto Verona Road, bear right to continue onto Saltsburg Road Turn left onto Leechburg Road) Turn left onto Milltown Road, bear left onto Hulton Road Continue to the intersection with Hulton Road/Coxcomb Hill Road Turn left to continue on Hulton Road Continue to the intersection with Allegheny River Boulevard End detour
Those east of the closure will take the same routes in the opposite direction.
“Well, I have options. I could go through Verona and try to just skip the bridge altogether. Or I could just go down Pennsylvania and go down there. Probably, I’ll do that. Pennsylvania Avenue will be my detour,” said Tobias Black, of Oakmont.
While traffic back-ups were anticipated in the borough, Oakmont residents said they’re relieved the work is not scheduled to last very long.
“It’s like everything else in life. The minute you’re involved in it, you say, ‘Boy, can’t they hurry up?’ But once it passes, you say, ‘Boy, I hardly remember that even happening,’” McTiernan said.
According to PennDOT, Allegheny Valley Railroad crews were performing the repairs.