Fern Hollow Bridge Reopening Sparks Numerous Traffic Pattern Changes

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Fern Hollow Bridge reopening on Thursday has prompted the city to make several traffic pattern changes around the span, with more planned for early next year.

While the $25 million bridge was being built this year to replace the one that collapsed in January, city Department of Mobility and Infrastructure decided to implement the changes at several complex intersections near the span. The new patterns also are expected to improve connections for pedestrians and cyclists who rely on the route for commuting, access to Frick Park, and access between residential neighborhoods.

The streets affected by the changes are Forbes Avenue, South Dallas Avenue, Beechwood Boulevard and Beacon Street.

According to the city, coinciding with the reopening of the bridge were the following:

• South Dallas Avenue between Forbes Avenue and Beechwood Boulevard is now one-way southbound. Traffic is not be permitted northbound.
• The existing ramp between Beechwood and Forbes has closed to vehicle traffic.
• A stop sign on Beechwood Boulevard eastbound has been added.

The remainder of the changes will be made in the spring. A summary follows.

A – South Dallas Avenue between Forbes Avenue and Beechwood Boulevard will become 1-way southbound.
B – A stop sign on Beechwood eastbound at South Dallas will be added to allow southbound South Dallas to be a free-flowing movement.

C – A contra-flow bike lane for northbound cyclists will be added to maintain two-way operations on South Dallas for cyclists, preserving access to the Homewood Cemetery and a route on the Bike+ Plan.

D – Intersection improvements at Beechwood at Beacon Street will improve safety with a protected intersection: calming traffic by narrowing travel lanes, improving yield compliance at crosswalks, decreasing pedestrian crossing distances and protecting the bike lanes through the
intersection.

E – A climbing (uphill only) bike lane on Beacon Street will connect to the Bartlett Street Neighborway, closing a gap in the Bike+ Network and decreasing stress for both cyclists and
drivers by giving them separate lanes for this steep section.

F – The existing ramp from Beechwood to Forbes Avenue will be permanently closed to vehicular traffic. The proposed 2-way cycle track on Forbes Ave will connect to existing bike lanes on Beechwood at this location.

G – A “crossbike," a green crosswalk designed to facilitate bike movements, will be installed at the end of the Forbes Avenue two-way cycle track to improve visibility at the intersection of these two bike facilities. A speed hump will be installed to calm westbound Beechwood Blvd traffic approaching this area.

H - – The north Beechwood parking lane east of South Dallas will be removed to create a pedestrian walking space connecting to end of the existing Beechwood sidewalk to the east. It will be protected with flex posts along with the adjacent bike lane.

I – The speed limit on Forbes Avenue from South Dallas to Braddock Avenue will be lowered from 35 mph to 25 mph.

J – The proposed two-way cycle track from the Fern Hollow Bridge to Beechwood will be protected with concrete jersey barriers.

K – The traffic signals at Forbes at South Dallas Ave and Forbes at Beechwood will be re-timed to accommodate new traffic patterns in that area.

L - An all-way stop condition at Beacon at Beechwood will be investigated in the spring after traffic volumes have had time to adjust to these new traffic patterns.