People, businesses prepare for long-term construction project in Shaler

SHALER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — People who live in the North Hills are preparing for a long-term bridge closure in Shaler Township.

The bridge, and the busy intersection of Route 8 and Elfinwild Road, will close in a few short weeks and will remain closed for several months for construction.

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Crews will be working to add a new sidewalk and guide rail, plus they’ll put in a new retaining wall, concrete barrier and add improve drainage.

Drivers won’t be the only ones inconvenienced.

The owner of the kitchen fair located next to the bridge is nervous the construction will affect business.

“It’s going to affect some of the customers coming in for parking. The crews have been very helpful with us as to try to get people in and out as easy as possible, but we do need a bridge here, so hopefully it goes nice and smooth for us,” Joe Leson, owner of Kitchen Fair, said.

During construction, there will be three detours drivers can take.

There will be three posted detours for this project:

• East Elfinwild Road traffic will be detoured using Middle Road, Burchfield Road and William Flinn Highway (Route 8).

• During construction, the left-turn lane used by William Flinn Highway (Route 8) southbound traffic to turn onto East Elfinwild Road will be closed. So, William Flinn Highway (Route 8) southbound traffic wanting to reach the businesses located at the closure site will be detoured using Eighth Avenue, Edison Street, Duquesne Street and William Flinn Highway (Route 8) northbound.

• Drivers exiting the businesses at the closure site and wanting to go southbound on William Flinn Highway (Route 8) will be detoured using William Flinn Highway (Route 8) northbound, Duncan Avenue, Mount Royal Boulevard and Elfinwild Road.

The bridge will close on March 16 and won’t reopen again until December.

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