Liberty Bridge closed for repairs related to 2016 fire

PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Pittsburgh bridge is closed over the weekend to repair damage caused by a construction fire last year.

Traffic on the Liberty Bridge closed in both directions at 3 p.m. Saturday and will remain closed until 11 a.m. Sunday.

The northbound side of the Liberty Tunnel is also closed. All traffic will be detoured.

Crews will also repair an expansion joint that crosses the full width of the bridge.

RELATED: 

• PennDOT: Contractor to pay for fire that damaged Liberty Bridge (Sept. 8, 2016)
• Contractor: First phase of Liberty Bridge repairs almost complete (Sept. 15, 2016)

State transportation officials and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration have said hot residue from a blowtorch ignited plastic piping and a construction tarp on Sept. 2.

A 30-foot chord designed to hold 2.4 million pounds of pressure buckled during the blaze. Its failure could've caused the bridge to collapse.

POSTED DETOURS

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Take Route 51 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard) northbound

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Take the exit to I-376 West/US 19 South toward Carnegie/Airport/West End

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Take Exit 69A toward US 19 South/Banksville Road

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Keep left and loop back to I-376 eastbound toward Fort Pitt Tunnel

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Follow eastbound I-376 through Fort Pitt Tunnel and across the Fort Pitt Bridge

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For access to I-279 destinations follow I-279 signage, all other destinations take exit toward I-376 East/Monroeville

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Take the left exit 71A to Grant Street

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Turn left onto Grant Street

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End detour

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Take Grant Street to I-376

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

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Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

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Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road

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Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376

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Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown

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Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel

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End detour

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From the Boulevard of the Allies take the ramp to North I-579 to I-279 Veterans Bridge Exit

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Take the Convention Center/7th Avenue Exit

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Turn right onto Grant Street

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Turn left onto 11th Street

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Continue straight onto the 10th Street Bypass

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Take the I-376 West Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport Exit

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Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

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Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road

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Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376

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Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown

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Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel

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End detour

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From PA 380, take the Consol Center/6th Avenue Exit

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Take the 6th Avenue Exit

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Turn right onto Grant Street

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Turn left onto 11th Street

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Continue straight onto the 10th Street Bypass

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Take the I-376 West Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport Exit

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Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

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Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road

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Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376

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Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown

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Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel

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End detour

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From southbound I-279, take the I-279 South Fort Pitt Bridge Exit

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Take the South I-279/To I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport Exit

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Take the West I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge Exit

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Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

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Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road

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Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376

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Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown

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Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel

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End detour

Associated Press