Community Corner
🌱 Armstrong Tunnel + Downtown Traffic + Air Quality Concerns
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Pittsburgh.
Good morning, Pittsburgh. I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Today you'll find these stories and more...
- Armstrong Tunnel to temporarily close for $13 million project
- Downtown Pittsburgh traffic to be impacted by long-term tunnel closure
- Allegheny County Health Department sees no air-quality changes after Ohio wreck
But first, today's weather: Rain and snow showers. High: 45 Low: 21.
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Here are the top stories in Pittsburgh today:
1) The recent train derailment in nearby East Palestine, Ohio has left locals with air quality concerns — but Allegheny County Health Department reports no air-quality changes. The department has detected levels of benzene and vinyl chloride in the region's air but reports no changes that could be attributed to the Ohio train wreck. "The county's monitors do detect several of the pollutants like benzene and vinyl chloride," ACHD said in a statement Thursday afternoon. "With more than 25 miles from East Palestine to the county border, any emissions would likely disperse before reaching the county, but will still continue to be monitored."
2) Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman is in the hospital again, marking his second stay in two weeks. He checked himself in to Walter Reed National Military Center to receive treatment for clinical depression his staff announced on Thursday. "On Monday, John was evaluated by Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician of the United States Congress. Yesterday, Dr. Monahan recommended inpatient care at Walter Reed. John agreed, and he is receiving treatment on a voluntary basis," Adam Jentleson, his chief of staff, said. Last week, Fetterman was hospitalized for several days after becoming lightheaded, but his aides said he did not suffer another stroke.
3) The Armstrong Tunnel's inbound lanes will be closed for a time to make way for a $13.1 million rehab project. Beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday, March 4 the inbound lanes will close, in addition to the right lane for inbound traffic on Second Avenue at the road's intersection with the tunnel. "Cars will be detoured using Second Avenue, Ross Street, and Forbes Avenue, and trucks will be detoured using Second Avenue, B Street, First Avenue, Grant Street, Boulevard of the Allies, Commonwealth Place, Liberty Avenue, Fifth Avenue, Sixth Avenue, and Forbes Avenue." The expected timeframe for the tunnel's reopening is winter 2024.
4) Pittsburgh's Waterfront, a hotspot for entertainment, restaurants and dining, is implementing a youth curfew. After 6 p.m., waterfront visitors under 18 must be accompanied by and must remain with a supervising adult 21 or older who carries a verification identification such as a federal or state agency photo ID. And people under 18 who are caught at the Waterfront without a 21+ supervising adult run the risk of being caught and banned from The Waterfront for life, depending on the nature of the curfew violation. "This policy is in effect for the entire Waterfront, including common areas and businesses and will be strictly enforced by property management, property security and local police who patrol the area."
5) A crew from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is getting prepped for a dinosaur dig this week. Local researchers will join a team in South America to dig up fossils from two dinosaurs. "There is a chance, (paleontologist Matt) Lamanna said, that researchers will find evidence of a species never discovered before; and, even if they do not, each new fossil collected will help scientists learn more about Earth's past." Most of the dinosaurs currently featured in the museum come from the Northern hemisphere — namely because paleontology has been studied for longer in those areas. The crew's exploration in the Southern Hemisphere hopes to uncover more about how the creatures that lived there differ from those of more northern landmasses.
Today in Pittsburgh:
- Open Mic Night! — Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale (6 PM)
- People of Pittsburgh: The Alchemist of Sharpsburg (7 PM)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.
— Rachel Tasker
About me: Rachel is a native Pennsylvanian with stops in Erie and State College before making Pittsburgh her home in 2020. She's got a background in a little bit of everything... from working in media newsrooms and public health to the 2016 Presidential election in Washington, D.C. and the 2019 Super Bowl where (surprise!) Tom Brady won... AGAIN. She loves good coffee, bad reality T.V., attending local events and trying new food in the 412. She resides in the South Hills.
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