PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Water and the City of Pittsburgh recently broke ground Tuesday on the $6.8 million Stewart Avenue Stormwater Improvement Project.
The initiative will install new drainage infrastructure, green infrastructure and road improvements to reduce flooding risks in the Carrick and Overbrook neighborhoods.
Heavy rainfall has long pushed stormwater across streets, down hillsides and toward homes in the area due to a lack of dedicated collection infrastructure. The project creates a dedicated stormwater management system to capture and direct runoff away from local properties.
Pittsburgh Water will install a new storm sewer system on Stewart Avenue along with new catch basins and manholes on Stewart Avenue and surrounding streets. The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure will handle roadway improvements, including new curbs and pavement, to safely direct runoff through a dedicated network rather than across the surface.
Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor stated that the initiative focuses on addressing long-standing neighborhood concerns.
“When residents raise concerns about flooding, they deserve solutions that address the root causes of the problem,” O’Connor said. “By partnering with Pittsburgh Water on this project, we’re improving roads, reducing flooding risks and investing in infrastructure that will benefit Carrick and Overbrook for years to come.”
Plans also call for a new green infrastructure facility near Stewart Avenue and Horning Street. The facility will capture and temporarily hold stormwater before slowly releasing it into the drainage network. This process reduces peak flow volume during heavy storms, lessening pressure on Saw Mill Run where runoff from the project area ultimately flows.
Rachael Beam, chief engineering officer of Pittsburgh Water, explained how the structural changes will manage heavy rainfall.
“This area historically has lacked the stormwater infrastructure needed to properly manage runoff during heavy rain,” Beam said. “By adding new catch basins and a dedicated storm sewer system, we’re giving that water a place to go instead of allowing it to travel across streets and toward homes. The green infrastructure component will also help us hold and slow stormwater before it reaches Saw Mill Run.”
The infrastructure work is organized through a cost-sharing agreement between Pittsburgh Water and the City of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Water is funding the storm sewer network and green infrastructure facility, while the city is paying for the roadway reconstruction. Additional shared project costs are split equally between the two entities.
Pittsburgh Water CEO Will Pickering underscored the focus on infrastructure durability.
“Addressing flooding and managing stormwater are essential parts of Pittsburgh Water’s commitment to building a more resilient community,” Pickering said. “This project will help reduce flooding by creating a dedicated system to capture and manage stormwater before it reaches homes and streets, while also improving neighborhood infrastructure. Through our partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, we’re making an investment that will better protect residents, improve drainage and strengthen the community’s resilience during future storms.”
Construction work will span Stewart Avenue from Saw Mill Run Boulevard to Parkdale Street. Crews will also work on portions of Parkdale Street, Esther Street, Horning Street and Carol Circle. Flaggers and temporary lane restrictions will be used to maintain neighborhood traffic flow during construction.
Construction is expected to continue through September 2027. Pittsburgh Water plans to distribute ongoing construction and traffic updates to neighborhood residents as work progresses.
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