PITTSBURGH, PA — It's called "the bathtub" for a reason - and it's about to trigger prolonged traffic restrictions and detours along a stretch of the Parkway East (I-376).
Located between the Grant Street (Exit 71A) interchange and the Fort Pitt Bridge, the bathtub has experienced increased closures due to flooding over the past decade. Each closure diverts approximately 43,000 vehicles and costs a significant amount of money and time to allow crews to conduct clean-up activities once the river recedes.
So PennDOT is embarking on a $14.3 million project to reduce the frequency of flooding events and improve maintenance response time afterwards.
The work will include reconstructing and raising 1,150 feet of the existing flood wall; installing micropiles to strengthen the existing structural foundation under the roadway; full pavement replacement; and repairing and upgrading the existing pump and piping systems.
Preparatory work for the project will begin Oct. 3 and will involve ramp closures and long-term lane closures.
What To Expect
The following restrictions will occur and remain in place until August:
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Pittsburgh Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.