MCKEESPORT, Pa. — Drivers in the Mon Valley are preparing for a major disruption as the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge is set to close to vehicle traffic starting Saturday, March 14, at 10 a.m., weather permitting.
The bridge will close to traffic around-the-clock through Tuesday, April 7.
The sidewalks on the bridge will remain open during the closure.
PennDOT says the closure is part of a bridge preservation project valued at more than $50.77 million.
The work includes concrete and steel repairs, sidewalk and pedestrian access improvements, replacement of worn parts, and painting.
Drivers who use the bridge regularly told Channel 11 they expect the closure to be inconvenient.
One driver said the detour will force him to go through Swissvale and use the Rankin Bridge to get around.
Kevin Savage of Duquesne said he crosses the bridge four times a day and expects the closure to hit his wallet.
“It’s going to cost me probably an extra $200 a week in fuel just to get around,” Savage said.
Neil Tolan of West Mifflin said he does not understand why traffic cannot be maintained with one lane in each direction.
“I don’t know why they can’t just keep it open one lane in either direction,” Tolan said.
Still, both drivers said they understand the work needs to be done, even if it creates heavier traffic on alternate routes.
“You can put up with anything for one month,” Tolan said.
Here’s PennDOT’s posted detours:
From North of the Bridge
Take Route 837 (South Duquesne Boulevard) northbound
South Duquesne Boulevard becomes Kennywood Boulevard
Kennywood Boulevard becomes River Road
From the left lane, take the ramp to 376 toward Rankin Bridge/Swissvale
Turn right at the light and cross the Rankin Bridge
Take the Rankin/Braddock ramp
Turn left onto Braddock Avenue
Turn right onto East Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard
East Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard becomes Bowman Avenue
Follow Bowman Avenue to the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge
End detour
From South of the Bridge
Take Route 148 (Fifth Avenue) northbound
Turn left onto US 30 (Lincoln Highway)
Turn left onto Navy-Marine Corps Way
Turn right onto East Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard
Turn left onto Braddock Avenue
Braddock Avenue becomes Kenmawr Avenue
Turn right onto the ramp to the Rankin Bridge
Cross the Rankin Bridge to Route 837
Turn left onto Route 837 (River Road)
River Road becomes Kennywood Boulevard
Kennywood Boulevard becomes South Duquesne Boulevard
Follow South Duquesne Boulevard back to the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge
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