Pittsburgh Parkway To Experience Long-Term Traffic Restrictions, Lane Closures

PITTSBURGH, PA — It's called "the bathtub" for a reason - and it's about to trigger prolonged traffic restrictions and detours along a stretch of the Parkway East (I-376).

Located between the Grant Street (Exit 71A) interchange and the Fort Pitt Bridge, the bathtub has experienced increased closures due to flooding over the past decade. Each closure diverts approximately 43,000 vehicles and costs a significant amount of money and time to allow crews to conduct clean-up activities once the river recedes.

So PennDOT is embarking on a $14.3 million project to reduce the frequency of flooding events and improve maintenance response time afterwards.

The work will include reconstructing and raising 1,150 feet of the existing flood wall; installing micropiles to strengthen the existing structural foundation under the roadway; full pavement replacement; and repairing and upgrading the existing pump and piping systems.

Preparatory work for the project will begin Oct. 3 and will involve ramp closures and long-term lane closures.

What To Expect

The following restrictions will occur and remain in place until August:

• The Grant Street on-ramp to westbound I-376 will close to traffic.
  • The westbound I-376 left-hand off-ramp to Grant Street (Exit 71A) will remain open.
• The westbound I-376 left-hand off-ramp to Stanwix Street (Exit 70D) will close to traffic.
  • The Stanwix Street on-ramp to westbound I-376 will remain open.
• A long-term left-hand lane closure will be implemented on westbound I-376 between the closed Grant Street on-ramp and the left-hand on-ramp from Stanwix Street.
  • The right-hand exit lane to the Ft. Duquesne Bridge will be shortened to allow two lanes of through-traffic to the Ft. Pitt Bridge.
  • No lane restrictions are anticipated on eastbound I-376 Parkway East in this corridor related to the project.