City Of Pittsburgh Tree Installation To Trigger Traffic Delays, Road Closures

PITTSBURGH, PA — Temporary delays and traffic closures will occur in the city this weekend as the 113th City of Pittsburgh Christmas tree is installed Downtown at the City-County Building.

This year's official city tree is a 38-foot blue spruce donated by Anthony Vallecorsa from Brighton Heights. The tree will journey from the North Side to Downtown, where it will be decorated with lights and ornaments and serve as the City’s official tree through the New Year.

Drivers can expect the delays and rolling closures to occur Saturday between 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. as the tree is escorted Downtown from Brighton Heights at the following locations: Richbarn Road, Brighton Road, Termon Avenue, Brighton Heights Boulevard, Route-65, I-279, Fort Duquesne Bridge, Fort Pitt Boulevard, Smithfield Street, Boulevard of the Allies and Grant Street.

On Sunday, the northbound lane of Grant Street closest to the City-County Building will be closed from 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. to allow crews to finish decorating the tree.

The City of Pittsburgh Christmas tree lighting and festivities will take place in front of the City-County Building on Light-Up Night, November 21, from 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. in front of the City-County Building. The event will feature live music from Chantal Joseph and Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts’ Jazz Quintet, as well as food trucks, a craft vendor market, and holiday light shows.

The tree will be lit at 5 p.m. and will feature rooftop fireworks. The musically timed City-County Building holiday light show on the building’s Grant Street facade will be featured immediately following the tree lighting, with additional shows at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to end the evening's event.