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Print This StoryFort Pitt Tunnels: Big Change In Traffic Patterns
Second Phase Begins Friday Night
POSTED: 4:15 p.m. EST March 28, 2003
UPDATED: 9:54 a.m. EST April 28, 2003
Drivers will soon be dealing with the biggest change in traffic patterns Pittsburgh has ever seen.
At 10 p.m. Friday, the inbound lanes will close. Then beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, those lanes will be detoured through the outbound lanes of the bridge and tunnel.
The Green Tree hill side of the Fort Pitt Tunnel was very active Friday as road crews finished work for the crossover that takes two lanes of inbound traffic through the outbound tunnel.
The Trumbull Corporation, the project contractor, gave Channel 11 News an escorted preview of what drivers can expect Saturday.
Although the actual crossover doesn't open until Saturday morning, Channel 11 drove inbound through the outbound side.
It felt and looked odd exiting the tunnel as the spectacular view of Pittsburgh we've all grown accustomed to seeing, is blocked by the upper deck of the bridge.
Once on the downtown side of the tunnel, drivers have three options:
·The right lane goes to the Parkway East or Grant Street.
·The center lane will put you on Liberty Avenue; a new ramp was built to accommodate the change.
·And drivers in the left lane will go on the 10th Street bypass, which reopened Friday after being closed for two years during the convention center project. Channel 11 news wanted to give a more detailed look now at the inbound detours drivers will be facing starting Saturday. First, if you're traveling inbound on the Parkway West and you want to end up on the Parkway North, here's PennDOT's recommended route:
Take the West End exit off of the parkway.
Follow Route 51 to the West End Circle and Bridge, and exit onto the North Shore Expressway, leading to I-279. There is an alternative route through town:
Cross over to the outbound lanes on the parkway and go through the tunnel, taking the new Liberty Avenue ramp.
Then you can turn left on Stanwix, and then onto the 10th Street bypass to the Fort Duquesne Bridge, which will take you where you want to go. If you want to go to the Parkway East, use the cross over, then stay in the right lane, and signs will guide you to the exit to the Parkway East. And if you're headed to town, use the cross over and the Liberty Avenue ramp and you're good to go.
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·The right lane goes to the Parkway East or Grant Street.
·The center lane will put you on Liberty Avenue; a new ramp was built to accommodate the change.
·And drivers in the left lane will go on the 10th Street bypass, which reopened Friday after being closed for two years during the convention center project. Channel 11 news wanted to give a more detailed look now at the inbound detours drivers will be facing starting Saturday. First, if you're traveling inbound on the Parkway West and you want to end up on the Parkway North, here's PennDOT's recommended route:
Take the West End exit off of the parkway.
Follow Route 51 to the West End Circle and Bridge, and exit onto the North Shore Expressway, leading to I-279. There is an alternative route through town:
Cross over to the outbound lanes on the parkway and go through the tunnel, taking the new Liberty Avenue ramp.
Then you can turn left on Stanwix, and then onto the 10th Street bypass to the Fort Duquesne Bridge, which will take you where you want to go. If you want to go to the Parkway East, use the cross over, then stay in the right lane, and signs will guide you to the exit to the Parkway East. And if you're headed to town, use the cross over and the Liberty Avenue ramp and you're good to go.
View Detailed Detour MapsPennDOT 24-hour live help desk (877) 450-4279epenndot.comCopyright 2003 by Wpxi.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
