PennDOT Planning Major Parkway West Project

PITTSBURGH, PA — PennDOT is advancing plans for a significant Parkway West project near the Fort Pitt Tunnel to alleviate daily recurring congestion, travel time delays and above-average crash rates.

The I-396-Banksville interchange project will occur just beyond the Fort Pitt Tunnel's western portal and include the Saw Mill Run interchange (Route 51) and the Banksville interchange. PennDOT will hold a virtual open house detailing the work on July 29 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

PennDOT plans to construct new exit points from the parkway and Banksville Road (Route 19) to Saw Mill Run Boulevard. The intent is to eliminate the weave movement that occurs where Banksville merges with the parkway just before the tunnel.

To accomplish that, PennDOT will build a new ramp from the parkway that will include a bridge carrying traffic over Banksville and linking to a new slip ramp from Banksville. Traffic patterns won't change for motorists traveling from Banksville to the tunnel.

PennDOT also will construct a new outbound fourth lane from Banksville to the Parkway Center Drive off-ramp and a new inbound third lane from the Parkway Center Drive on-ramp to the new parkway exit ramp. New signs will be installed throughout the project area.

Further details on the plans are expected to be disclosed at the open house.

Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.