15-day road construction process begins Friday in Pittsburgh

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — Drivers are being told to pack some extra patience as construction gets underway Friday evening, lasting several weeks.

PennDOT says the Glenwood off-ramp for exit 73A will be closed, as well as one lane of traffic from the Saline Street Bridge to the Boulevard of Allies until June 25. This is so crews can widen the bridge that carries the Parkway over Bates Street.

The bridge is being widened as part of a $7.6 million project to lengthen the exit ramp for the Glenwood exit. During rush hour, traffic on that ramp backs up onto the Parkway, creating a dangerous situation.

Caleb Zimmerman lives in Oakland and says the project around Bates Street is already an inconvenience.

“You probably want to leave your house a half an hour earlier than you would normally,” Zimmerman tells Channel 11.

Abby King also lives in Oakland, but commutes into the city or into Robinson for work. She says she’s already noticed the traffic woes.

“I actually work downtown and I take the bus from here to the office, and with the construction it already makes my commute a lot longer,” King tells Channel 11. “The construction feels like it’s been going on for a very long time. It’s a little inconvenient, but I’m hoping that once it’s done, the streets will be improved and it will look a lot nicer.”

With gas prices soaring, most drivers don’t want to sit idling in traffic or take a long detour around town. Cars and pedestrians will not be allowed under the bridge carrying the Parkway over Bates Street while a crane is brought in and cement is cast.

The ramp from Bates Street to the Parkway East outbound will also close through next Wednesday and if needed, overnight through June 25.

The overall project is expected to be completed by September.

Here is a list of the suggested detours from PennDOT:

Inbound (westbound) I-376 ramp to South 885/Glenwood (Exit 73A):

From inbound (westbound) I-376 (Parkway East), continue past the closed ramp.

Take the Grant Street (Exit 71A) off-ramp.

Turn right onto First Avenue.

Turn left onto B Street.

Turn right onto Second Avenue.

Follow Second Avenue to Bates Street.

End detour

Bates Street Ramp to outbound (eastbound) I-376 from the Boulevard of the Allies:

Take the Boulevard of the Allies westbound (inbound).

Take the ramp to I-376 West toward Downtown/Fort Pitt Bridge.

Merge onto I-376 Parkway East.

Take the left-hand Grant Street off-ramp (Exit 71A).

From Grant Street, turn right onto the Boulevard of the Allies.

Take the ramp to I-376 East toward Monroeville.

End detour

Bates Street Ramp to outbound (eastbound) I-376 from Second Avenue:

Take Second Avenue westbound (inbound).

Turn left onto B Street.

Turn right onto First Avenue.

Turn right onto Grant Street.

Turn right onto the Boulevard of the Allies.

Take the ramp to I-376 East toward Monroeville.

End detour

Southbound Bates Street (From the Boulevard of the Allies to Second Avenue):

Take the Boulevard of the Allies westbound (inbound).

Take the ramp to I-376 West toward Downtown/Fort Pitt Bridge.

Merge onto I-376 Parkway East.

Take the left-hand Grant Street off-ramp (Exit 71A).

Turn right onto First Avenue.

Turn left onto B Street.

Turn right onto Second Avenue.

Follow Second Avenue to Bates Street.

End detour

Northbound Bates Street (From Second Avenue to the Boulevard of the Allies):

From eastbound (outbound) Second Avenue, Turn right onto Hot Metal Street.

Turn right onto East Carson Street (Route 837).

Turn right onto the Birmingham Bridge.

Take the ramp toward Oakland.

Turn right onto Forbes Avenue.

Turn right onto Craft Avenue.

Turn left onto the Boulevard of the Allies.

Follow the Boulevard of the Allies to Bates Street.

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