This bridge reopening will mark the third bridge in the city to re/open in November 2007 with enhanced bike/ped access – 31st Street (new, wide multi-use sidewalk), Birmingham (new bike lanes), and Hot Metal (bike/ped only).

Friday, November 09, 2007
By Joe Grata, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The 31st Street bridge over the Allegheny River will reopen Nov. 21 following nearly two years of rehabilitation work.

Traffic will be permitted to return to the two-lane span connecting the Strip District on the south end and Route 28 on the north end following a 10 a.m. ceremony.

The bridge, built in 1928, was closed Feb. 14, 2006, so that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation could begin the $26.8 million project. About 6,900 cars and trucks used the bridge prior to the start of work.

The project included widening the deck, building a new sidewalk on the downstream side, restoring old lighting to reflect the historical significance of the bridge to the community and painting the steel superstructure in a new shade of blue being used in the city for the first time.

About two weeks ago, the city converted one block of Penn Avenue in the Strip District into a two-way street, so traffic headed toward Lawrenceville will be able to make a left turn coming off of the bridge rather than traveling an extra block to Liberty Avenue.

Also, when the bridge reopens, the traffic signal at the bridge intersection with Route 28 will revert to timing sequences in effect before the work started, so Route 28 drivers have been reminded to expect the change.

First published on November 9, 2007 at 9:56 am