Baum Blvd. closed after bricks fall onto roadway

PITTSBURGH — Bricks that fell from a building on Baum Boulevard Thursday morning and forced a partial closure of the roadway are causing quite a bit of trouble not only for drivers but also for people living in the area.

Police and building inspectors were called to the 5800 block of Baum Boulevard following the incident, which was reported shortly before 10 a.m. at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

Baum Boulevard has been closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic between South Euclid Avenue and South St. Clair Street, creating traffic headaches for drivers.

At one point in the day, a semi-truck became stuck while trying to make a left turn in the area.Neighbors also said they’re becoming frustrated with the uptick in traffic on their residential streets.

“There’s no pattern, so if they were to put a sign up at Baum and Negley, let people know that you can only get through here, it’d make more sense,” said Sally Ann Kluz, of East Liberty. “Everyone comes down thinking they can get through because you see Penn Avenue, but you can’t because there’s a great park.”

A restoration company told Channel 11 News that it could take months for the building’s façade to be replaced.

At this time, it is unclear when Baum Boulevard will reopen.