We’re here on the corner of Penn Avenue and 5th Avenue, which is one of the major detour routes for drivers during this Parkway East closure. You can see cars are lined up here to make this left turn to get onto 5th Avenue, which is how they’re gonna be able to get into the city as the Parkway East is closed during this stretch. And when we talk to drivers, they say they’re doing their best. And as for Pendant, they’re trying to make sure this is as *** fluid situation as possible, but are. adjustments on the fly. Thousands of drivers entered their 2nd day of their new morning commute because of the Parkway East closures. Some drivers share they are relieved their drive doesn’t take them along the detours. Not really, because I don’t have to go this way, basically. I don’t have to go towards town. 5th and Penn is just one of the many pinch points Pendot has pointed out. Others include 5th, the Boulevard of the Allies and cars using Region Square as *** cut-through. Officials say they are working around the clock to make adjustments to traffic signals from their command center. They can do some of these signal adjustments from remotely. They’re also sending crews out to some of the signals, so they’ll, we will continue to do that if we see queues backing up. Then we’ll make adjustments. Regardless, Zhang says it’s going to take *** little time. Typically when we install *** detour or any kind of change in traffic control, the first couple of days are the roughest, are the, are the toughest. Uh, it usually gets better from there as people decide that they don’t want to get stuck in traffic. They will decide *** different route or do something different. So hopefully, hopefully it just gets better from today. Officials encourage folks just to really continue to plan ahead if you’re planning on leaving your home and having to take one of these detour routes, that way you can give yourself the best chance to make it to your destination on time. But for now, covering Allegheny County right here in Point Breeze, Carlos Flores, Pittsburgh’s action news 4.
PennDOT to conduct ‘explosive demolition’ of Parkway East bridge
Updated: 3:28 PM EDT Jul 14, 2026
PennDOT officials announced the old Parkway East bridge will be explosively demolished on Wednesday. RELATED VIDEO: 376 Bridge Closure: Drivers tackle Parkway East detours In a release on Tuesday, PennDOT said the demolition will occur on Wednesday, July 15, weather permitting, in Edgewood Borough and the City of Pittsburgh. The explosive demolition of the current I-376 bridge between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale (Exit 77) interchange is anticipated to occur between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. Wednesday. As details develop, more information on the timing will be provided, officials said. PennDOT says the explosive process will only occur after crews and emergency personnel have cleared the blast radius on the ground and in the air and have declared the zone safe for the explosion.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 will live stream the demolition when it occurs. Current detours in place: Interstate Detour WestboundFrom westbound (inbound) I-376, take Exit 78B (Wilkinsburg) toward PA 8 NorthMerge onto Route 8 (Ardmore Boulevard)Continue straight onto Route 8 (Penn Avenue)Turn left onto Fifth AvenueAfter going through Oakland, take the ramp to the left for westbound I-376. Use caution for opposing trafficMerge onto the Boulevard of the Allies and stay in the right lane to merge onto westbound I-376 toward Downtown/Fort Pitt BridgeContinue straight to merge onto westbound (inbound) I-376Interstate Detour EastboundFrom eastbound (outbound) I-376, take Exit 72A (Forbes Avenue/ Oakland)Merge onto Forbes AvenueTurn left onto South Bellefield AvenueTurn right onto Fifth AvenueTurn right onto Route 8 (Penn Avenue)Bear right to continue on Route 8 (Ardmore Boulevard)Take the ramp to 376/22/30 toward Pittsburgh/MonroevilleAt the split, bear left to eastbound 376/22 toward MonroevilleMerge onto eastbound (outbound) I-376Local Detour WestboundFrom westbound (inbound) I-376, take Exit 77 (Edgewood/Swissvale)At the end of the ramp, turn left onto South Braddock AvenueContinue onto the Rankin BridgeTurn right onto Route 837 (River Road)Continue onto Route 837 (8th Avenue)Turn right onto the Homestead Grays BridgeContinue onto Browns Hill RoadContinue straight onto Beechwood BoulevardFollow signs for westbound I-376 toward PittsburghTake the ramp to westbound I-376 toward PittsburghLocal Detour EastboundFrom eastbound (outbound) I-376, take Exit 74A (Squirrel Hill/Homestead), continuing straight onto Beechwood Boulevard toward HomesteadContinue straight onto Browns Hill RoadContinue onto the Homestead Grays BridgeTurn left onto Route 837 (8th Avenue)Continue straight on Route 837 (River Road)Turn left onto the Rankin BridgeContinue onto South Braddock AvenueBear right to merge onto eastbound I-376 toward MonroevilleThis article will be updated as new information is made available. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
PennDOT officials announced the old Parkway East bridge will be explosively demolished on Wednesday.
RELATED VIDEO: 376 Bridge Closure: Drivers tackle Parkway East detours
In a release on Tuesday, PennDOT said the demolition will occur on Wednesday, July 15, weather permitting, in Edgewood Borough and the City of Pittsburgh.
The explosive demolition of the current I-376 bridge between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale (Exit 77) interchange is anticipated to occur between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. Wednesday.
As details develop, more information on the timing will be provided, officials said.
PennDOT says the explosive process will only occur after crews and emergency personnel have cleared the blast radius on the ground and in the air and have declared the zone safe for the explosion.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 will live stream the demolition when it occurs.
Current detours in place:
Interstate Detour WestboundFrom westbound (inbound) I-376, take Exit 78B (Wilkinsburg) toward PA 8 NorthMerge onto Route 8 (Ardmore Boulevard)Continue straight onto Route 8 (Penn Avenue)Turn left onto Fifth AvenueAfter going through Oakland, take the ramp to the left for westbound I-376. Use caution for opposing trafficMerge onto the Boulevard of the Allies and stay in the right lane to merge onto westbound I-376 toward Downtown/Fort Pitt BridgeContinue straight to merge onto westbound (inbound) I-376Interstate Detour EastboundFrom eastbound (outbound) I-376, take Exit 72A (Forbes Avenue/ Oakland)Merge onto Forbes AvenueTurn left onto South Bellefield AvenueTurn right onto Fifth AvenueTurn right onto Route 8 (Penn Avenue)Bear right to continue on Route 8 (Ardmore Boulevard)Take the ramp to 376/22/30 toward Pittsburgh/MonroevilleAt the split, bear left to eastbound 376/22 toward MonroevilleMerge onto eastbound (outbound) I-376Local Detour WestboundFrom westbound (inbound) I-376, take Exit 77 (Edgewood/Swissvale)At the end of the ramp, turn left onto South Braddock AvenueContinue onto the Rankin BridgeTurn right onto Route 837 (River Road)Continue onto Route 837 (8th Avenue)Turn right onto the Homestead Grays BridgeContinue onto Browns Hill RoadContinue straight onto Beechwood BoulevardFollow signs for westbound I-376 toward PittsburghTake the ramp to westbound I-376 toward PittsburghLocal Detour EastboundFrom eastbound (outbound) I-376, take Exit 74A (Squirrel Hill/Homestead), continuing straight onto Beechwood Boulevard toward HomesteadContinue straight onto Browns Hill RoadContinue onto the Homestead Grays BridgeTurn left onto Route 837 (8th Avenue)Continue straight on Route 837 (River Road)Turn left onto the Rankin BridgeContinue onto South Braddock AvenueBear right to merge onto eastbound I-376 toward Monroeville
This article will be updated as new information is made available.
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