You can definitely see some of that traffic starting to pick up. That far left lane again is something we are watching because that is the way that drivers are able to turn onto 5th Avenue here from Penn Avenue. You can see it’s kind of backing how long it’s stretching. Thankfully from what we’ve noticed is that it is cycling through quite quickly. The people aren’t having to wait at these red lights terribly long to. Make this left turn, but overall traffic on Penn Avenue, which is already *** busy street as it is, is definitely, you can feel how many more cars are out on the roadway. That is something of course Pend Do is also watching as well as several other pinch points, uh, that we’re seeing throughout the area. They can make adjustments on, uh, in *** second’s notice, and that’s something they’re watching, but we’re gonna keep you updated as we go along.
Parkway East closure: Drivers tackle detours as PennDOT actively makes adjustments
Updated: 11:22 AM EDT Jul 14, 2026
Drivers in Pittsburgh tackled another day of detours and traffic delays on Tuesday morning as the Parkway East closure continued.At the corner of Penn and Fifth avenues, along what PennDOT has designated as the “interstate detour” route, cars were lined up to turn left onto Fifth Avenue on their way into the city.Some drivers said they were relieved their routes to work did not go through the detours.”Not really, because I don’t have to go this way basically. We don’t have to go towards town,” one driver said.Parkway East closure >> Everything you need to know, including the detoursPennDOT has identified several traffic pinch points, including Fifth Avenue to Boulevard of the Allies, and Pittsburgh’s Regent Square neighborhood, which is being used as a cut-through by some drivers. Officials with PennDOT say they are working around the clock to adjust traffic signals from their command center. “They can do some of these signal adjustments remotely. They’re also sending crews out to some of the signals,” PennDOT district executive Jason Zang said. “We will continue to do that. If we see queues backing up, then we’ll make adjustments.”Don’t want to drive? Park-and-rides are another option during parkway closureZang said it is going to take a little time for drivers to adjust.”Typically, when we install a detour or any kind of change in traffic control, the first couple days are the toughest. It usually gets better from there. As people decide that they don’t want to get stuck in traffic, they will decide a different route or do something different. So hopefully, it just gets better from today,” he said.Officials are encouraging drivers to continue to plan ahead if their route includes detours to give themselves the best chance of reaching their destination on time.
PITTSBURGH —
Drivers in Pittsburgh tackled another day of detours and traffic delays on Tuesday morning as the Parkway East closure continued.
At the corner of Penn and Fifth avenues, along what PennDOT has designated as the “interstate detour” route, cars were lined up to turn left onto Fifth Avenue on their way into the city.
Some drivers said they were relieved their routes to work did not go through the detours.
“Not really, because I don’t have to go this way basically. We don’t have to go towards town,” one driver said.
Parkway East closure >> Everything you need to know, including the detours
PennDOT has identified several traffic pinch points, including Fifth Avenue to Boulevard of the Allies, and Pittsburgh’s Regent Square neighborhood, which is being used as a cut-through by some drivers. Officials with PennDOT say they are working around the clock to adjust traffic signals from their command center.
“They can do some of these signal adjustments remotely. They’re also sending crews out to some of the signals,” PennDOT district executive Jason Zang said. “We will continue to do that. If we see queues backing up, then we’ll make adjustments.”
Don’t want to drive? Park-and-rides are another option during parkway closure
Zang said it is going to take a little time for drivers to adjust.
“Typically, when we install a detour or any kind of change in traffic control, the first couple days are the toughest. It usually gets better from there. As people decide that they don’t want to get stuck in traffic, they will decide a different route or do something different. So hopefully, it just gets better from today,” he said.
Officials are encouraging drivers to continue to plan ahead if their route includes detours to give themselves the best chance of reaching their destination on time.