Roadwork on Parkway East set to get underway soon to address flooding at the ‘Bathtub’
PITTSBURGH —
A flood-prone portion of Parkway East will be under construction, starting in the next few months.
“It’s called the ‘Bathtub’ for a reason,” Adam Sam of Green Tree said.
The “Bathtub” section of the parkway got its nickname because of how often it floods with water from the neighboring Monongahela River.
PennDOT plans to fix the problem with an upcoming floodwall reconstruction project.
According to PennDOT, the project will consist of increasing the height of the existing floodwalls.
Officials told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Tuesday that work will likely begin in early October, but it’s possible it will get underway even sooner in late September.
Official dates will be set once a contract is awarded.
Jason Zang, a PennDOT District 11 Executive, previously said the “Bathtub” floods at a 25-foot flood stage.
“This will get us five more feet. We think it’s going to drastically reduce how much the “Bathtub” floods,” Zang said at a news conference in April.
Drivers should expect to see a few traffic changes in the near future, including a long-term Westbound lane restriction, an on-ramp closure from Grant Street, and an off-ramp closure to Stanwix Street.
The “Bathtub” will be fully closed for a week and a half in 2027.
“Maybe they’ll get it done quicker than they expect, like they did for the Commercial Street Bridge,” Sam said.
The floodwall reconstruction project is expected to last through late 2027/early 2028, according to PennDOT officials.