BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

part 2:

>> Tri-Boro T Intersection: Work will begin this spring to reconstruct the final T leg of the elevated Route 2037 Tri-Boro Expressway intersection with East Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard in East Pittsburgh. The estimated $16-17 million project will require a detour. Work will conclude in fall 2013.

>> Banksville Road Improvements: Estimated between $4-5 million, this project will mill and resurface, upgrade drainage, guide rail, and other improvements on Banksville Road (Route 19) from Beverly Road to the Parkway West in Dormont, Mt. Lebanon and the City of Pittsburgh. Lane closures will occur. Work will conclude in late fall.

>> Route 30 Electric Avenue Bridges: Work is underway to replace the bridges that carry Route 30 over Electric Avenue (Route 2112) in North Braddock. The $7.8 million project will require lane restrictions, ramp detours and crossovers on Route 30 with work concluding in fall 2013.

>> Presto-Sygan (Route 3028) Bridge: This $823,589 project will begin this spring to replace the bridge that carries Presto-Sygan Road over Thoms Run in South Fayette Township. Traffic will be detoured. Work will conclude in late 2013.

>> Presley Road (Route 3031) Bridge: Work will begin this fall on a $1 million project to replace the bridge that carries Presley Road over Chartiers Creek in Collier Township. Traffic will be detoured. Work will conclude in late 2013.

>> Curry Hollow Road (Route 2040) Bridge: Work to replace and improve this bridge over railroad tracks on Curry Hollow Road near Route 51 and the Value City shopping plaza in Pleasant Hills is underway. A turning lane will be added as part of the $5.6 million project. Long-term lane closures will occur.

>> Bridge Street (Route 1001) over Pine Creek: This $1.26 million project will replace the deck on the bridge that carries Bridge Street over Pine Creek in Etna Borough and a second bridge on Freeport Road over Barge Basin in Harrison Township. Detours and lane closures will occur. The project will begin March 22 with completion set for this fall.

>> Route 30 Five Points Intersection: Work will begin this spring on a $2.3 million project to widen and improve the intersection of Route 30 and Old Steubenville Pike (Route 3066) near the Route 22 interchange in North Fayette Township. Lane closures, shifts and ramp detours are expected. Work will conclude next fall.

>> Route 8 Hardies Road Intersection: Work will begin late this year to widen and add turning lanes on Route 8 from the PA Turnpike Interchange to Hardies Road. The $2.7 million project will require lane closures. Work will conclude in fall 2013.

>> Route 51 over Montour Run: This $1.8 million project will rehabilitate the bridge that carries Route 51 (Coraopolis Boulevard) over a township road and Montour Run in Robinson Township. Weekend detours may occur. Work will conclude in late summer 2012.

>> Hulton Road Bridge Replacement: Work on this $1.3 million project includes replacing the bridge that carries Route 2058 Hulton Road over Plum Creek in Plum Borough and Penn Hills Township. Traffic will be detoured during construction. Work will conclude in late summer.

>> Washington Pike Over Coal Run: Work to replace and improve the bridge that carries Route 3003 Washington Pike over Coal Run in South Fayette Township will begin in late fall. The estimate $1-2 million project will continue through fall 2013. Traffic will be maintained during construction.

>> Noblestown Road Culvert Replacement: Estimated between $0-1 million, this project set to begin in mid-summer will replace the bridge that carries Noblestown Road (Route 3048) over Robinson Run in North Fayette Township. Work will conclude in late fall. Traffic will be detoured.

>> Broadhead Road Bridge Replacement: Traffic will be maintained with trucks detoured while work on a $1.3 million project to replace the bridge that carries Broadhead Road (Route 3077) over Flaugherty Run Creek in Moon Township progresses through late fall.

>> Route 130 Tri-Boro Wall Repair: Set to begin this summer, this estimated $0-1 million project will repair five bin walls on the Tri-Boro Expressway between Sycamore Street and Maple Avenue. Work will conclude in fall 2013.

>> Route 148 Lysle Boulevard Improvements: Work includes concrete pavement patching, bituminous overlay, curb ramps, and traffic signal upgrades on two miles of Route 148 from Walnut Street to Jerome Street Bridge in McKeesport. The estimated $3-4 million project will begin in late spring and conclude this fall. Lane closures will be required.

>> Route 366 Bull Creek Road Improvements: Estimated between $9-10 million, this project includes bridge preservation, concrete reconstruction, drainage and intersection improvements on 2.76 miles of Route 366/1034 from Route 28 to the Tarentum Bridge in Tarentum Borough and Fawn and Harrison townships. Work will begin in late spring and conclude this fall. Lane closures will be required.

>> Route 885 Clairton Road Improvements: Work to mill and overlay, update guide rail, signals and drainage on 1.32 miles of Route 885 from College Drive to Lebanon Church Road in West Mifflin Borough will begin this spring and conclude this fall. Lane closure and crossovers will occur. The project is estimated at $2-3 million.

>> Route 4052 Warrendale Bayne Road Improvements: Work on this $5-6 million project will include intersection widening on 1.5 miles of Warrendale-Bayne Road in Marshall Township. The project will begin this spring and conclude this fall. Lane closures will occur.

>> Northbound Route 28 Blawnox off-ramp over Squaw Run: Located in O’Hara Township, this $1 million project started in 2011 is rehabilitating a culvert that carries the ramp from northbound Route 28 to Blawnox over Squaw Run. Work will continue through fall 2012. Minimal restrictions will occur.

>> Clairton-Glassport Bridge (Route 2038): Started in 2011, this $4 million project to preserve and rehabilitate the Clairton-Glassport Bridge over the Monongahela River in Clairton will conclude in early spring. Traffic signal and bridge bearing work will occur requiring lane closures.

>> Route 48 Boston Bridge: Started in 2010, this $17 million project to rehabilitate the bridge that carries Route 48 over the Youghiogheny River in Elizabeth Township and Versailles Borough will continue through early 2012. Short-term lane closures and detours will be required.

>> Route 19 Wexford Flats: Work started in 2011 on this $18.1 million project to widen and add a center turn lane on Route 19 from Longvue Road (near top of Pine Creek Hill) to just north of North Chapel/Manor Road in Pine and Marshall Townships. Long-term lane closures and traffic shifts are occurring. Overall work will conclude in late 2012.

>> Route 50 Washington Pike: Bridge and minor work remain on this $6.7 million project on Route 50 from Anderson Equipment in Collier Township to Boden Avenue in Carnegie Borough. Lane closures will occur. Work will continue through early summer 2012.

>> McKnight Road Route 4003: Work will conclude this spring on an $8.8 million project that improved McKnight Road from Nelson Run to Babcock Boulevard in Ross and McCandless Townships. Lane closures will occur through late spring for bridge and curb work.

>> West End Bridge: A project to improve traffic flow on the West End Bridge in Pittsburgh started in late 2011. The $1.1 million project will conclude early spring 2012. Minor lane closures may occur.

last part:

>> Landslides

Several projects will be underway this construction season to address major landslides:

- Route 48 Mosside Boulevard: Work on a $1-2 million project to repair a landslide on Route 48 in North Versailles Township and Wall Borough will begin this year and continue through early 2013. Lane closures may occur.

- Route 51 Island Avenue: Traffic will be maintained using temporary traffic signals as this estimated $0-1 million project addresses a landslide on Route 51 in Stowe Township. Work will begin this spring and conclude this fall.

- Route 1013 Saxonburg Boulevard: Estimated at $1-2 million, work to repair a landslide on Saxonburg Boulevard in West Deer Township will require a traffic detour. Work will begin this year and conclude in early 2013.

- Route 2001 Bunola River Road: Traffic will be detoured while this estimated $2-3 million project addresses a landslide on Bunola River Road in Forward Township. Work will begin this year and continue through fall 2013.

- Route 2065 Thompson Run Road: This estimated $1-2 million project will also require a detour as work begins in this summer to repair a slide on Thompson Run Road in Monroeville. Work will continue through early fall 2013.

- Route 4032 Fern Hollow Road: Located in Bell Acres Borough, this $0-500,000 project will stabilize a slope, repair drainage and reconstruct Fern Hollow Road this summer.

- Route 4063 Pearce Mill Road: Two different projects, estimated between $500,000 and $1.2 million will address landslides on Pearce Mill Road in Pine Township. Work will begin in this summer and continue through fall 2013. Detours will be required.

>> Group Resurfacing Contracts

The routes listed below will be milled and resurfaced in 2012 under contract group projects (work areas may be subject to change).

Frankstown Road (Route 380) from Tokay Street to Verona Road (Route 2058)

Freeport Road (Route 1001) from Route 910 (Gibsonia Road) to Cheswick Avenue

Boulevard of the Allies (Route 2208) from Commonwealth Place to Liberty Bridge

West Ingomar Road (Route 4070) from Highland Road to new pavement near Route 19

Library Road (Route 88) from Washington County to South Park Road

Finney Road (Route 2025) from Route 48 (Boston Hollow Road) to West Smithfield Road

Boyce Road (Route 3006) from Hunting Ridge Road to Birds Meadow Drive

Berryman Road (Route 3011) from Stoltz Road to Library Road (Route 88)

Prestley Road (Route 3031) from Washington Road (Route 50) to Thoms Run Road

Second Avenue (Route 885) from Glenwood Bridge to Greenfield Avenue

Route 910 (Gibsonia Road) from Hardt Road to Route 8 and from Mountainview Road to Pennsylvania Turnpike overpass

Burchfield Road (Route 1006) from Route 8 to Middle Road

Soose Road (Route 4013) from Parker Street to Wible Run Road

Sewickley-Oakmont Road (Route 4022) from Rochester Road to Route 19

Deer Run Road (Route 4033) from Kilbuck Street to Red Gate Road

I had no idea we had a street in Braddock called Electric Avenue. I think I'm gonna rock down to it.

Don't do electric avenue. And then we take it higher.

I was seriously once sitting at a stoplight on electric avenue while that song was playing. I will never forget that.

It was named for Westinghouse Electric Corporation, which WAS at the end of it in what is now the Keystone Building or something or other. Giant warehouse looking place.

Electric Avenue is nice....

But have you ever been to a corner in Winslow, Arizona, and have a flat bed Ford slow down to look at you?

Yes, now stuck in my head, thanks. Bop bOWww.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA5MtAmT24g

I first discovered Electric Avenue when I grabbed the Atom Smasher tag in tag-o-rama! Yay history!

...and yet we can't get less than ONE mile of the GAP closed. Sigh.

Looks like a shitty year to be driving in PA. So glad I live/work inside city limits haha

...and yet we can't get less than ONE mile of the GAP closed. Sigh.

This!

I miss analog video processing & live VJing with old fairlight machines.

Thanks for posting.

Does anyone know what is happening with the Greenfield Bridge? I don't see that on the list, and I thought it was scheduled for closing and replacement soon. Maybe that's not for a couple of years yet.

chinston - is the Greenfield Bridge a state owned and maintained road? Or is the state just providing some funds for a county or city road? This list is only PA DOT owned and maintained roads' planned projects. I think.

Where is sloaps? Sloaps seems to always know these things.

Ah, ok. It may not be state owned and maintained. I'm not sure.

Ok, from googling it looks like the implosion isn't planned till 2014, and that it will be out of service until the new bridge is completed in 2016.

I first discovered Electric Avenue when I grabbed the Atom Smasher tag in tag-o-rama! Yay history!

Oooh where's that? What's that?

Also thanks for the awesome list, ejwme

not penn dot related, but i was just reading this article, and the costs of these projects is really striking. the new mon wharf project, while obviously quite limited in scope, is expected to cost less than a million and a half, while work on some relatively lightly used interchanges will be in the $20 million range. yet another reason to promote bicycle use!

also, for ejwme, here is the last line of the linked article:

"Water taxis can land here," Ms. Nagasawa said.

@Chinston - Greenfield Bridge replacement will be under design still this year. Not yet ready for construction this season.

@HiddenVAriable "Water taxis can land here," Ms. Nagasawa said.

I suspect Ms Nagasawa is unfamiliar with the licensing involved with paid water transportation in this town.

@Mick: Her statement is still technically correct, in the same sense as "unicorns can be tied to that hitching post over there."

I first discovered Electric Avenue when I grabbed the Atom Smasher tag in tag-o-rama! Yay history!

Oooh where's that? What's that?

Electric Avenue

Atom Smasher location

Atom Smasher tag with more info

More from Google

I hope the unicorn hitching posts have a suitable loop for locking bikes too, when not in unicorn service.

I first discovered Electric Avenue when I grabbed the Atom Smasher tag in tag-o-rama! Yay history!

Oooh where's that? What's that?

Electric Avenue

Atom Smasher location

Atom Smasher tag with more info

More from Google

I hope the unicorn hitching posts have a suitable loop for locking bikes too, when not in unicorn service.

hmmm missed that somehow... thanks Steven!

Greenfield Bridge is planned to come down in 2014. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_764046.html

Here's another useful blog for traffic and road work, the Post Gazette's "The Roundabout": http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/news/the-roundabout

licensing processes can be reformed... besides, if we build it, they will come! (thank you HV!)

an update:

Birmingham Bridge Cleaning Begins Next Week in Pittsburgh

PennDOT District 11 is announcing work to clean the north end (near Oakland) of the Route 2085 Birmingham Bridge in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will begin on Tuesday night, May 29 weather permitting.

Short-term lane closures will occur on the bridge and various roadways below the structure including I-376 (Parkway East), Second Avenue and the Boulevard of the Allies (Route 885). Restrictions will occur as needed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday to Friday nights through June 15. All movements will be accommodated during the work.

Crews from Michael Facchiano Contracting, Inc. of Pittsburgh, PA, will perform cleaning in anticipation of an upcoming inspection on the bridge.

Motorists are advised to use caution, slow down, and expect changing traffic patterns when traveling through the area. Visit 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major roadways before traveling.

another:

Single Lane Closure Tuesday on Westbound I-376 Grant Street Off-Ramp in Pittsburgh

PennDOT District 11 is announcing a single lane closure on the ramp from westbound I-376 (inbound Parkway East/Central) to Grant Street (Exit 71A) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur on Tuesday, May 29 weather permitting.

The left lane closure will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. One lane will remain open. Crews will be conducting work on an overhead ramp.

No restrictions will occur on I-376 or the overhead ramp (eastbound I-376 Grant Street on-ramp).

PennDOT advises westbound motorists exiting to Grant Street to be cautious, slow down and expect changing traffic patterns.

The $8.7 million project includes concrete pavement patching, bituminous milling and resurfacing, concrete milling and latex concrete overlay/resurfacing, minor bridge repairs on various structures, drainage, guide rail, signing and pavement markings, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) installation, bridge rehabilitation and other improvements on various ramps on the Fort Pitt (I-376) and Fort Duquesne (I-279) bridges and the Parkway East/Central (I-376) from just south of the Fort Duquesne Bridge to approximately 1,800 feet east of the I-376 Grant Street Interchange (Exit 71A).

The project will also improve a bridge on Fort Duquesne Boulevard. Overall work will conclude this fall. The prime contractor is the Trumbull Corporation of Pittsburgh.

and another:

Commonwealth Avenue at Route 837 Closed Next Wednesday in West Mifflin

PennDOT District 11 is announcing Commonwealth Avenue at the intersection with Route 837 (Kennywood Boulevard) in West Mifflin Borough, Allegheny County, will be closed on Wednesday, May 30.

PennDOT maintenance crews will be concrete patching on Route 837 in the intersection.

The closure will occur from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. Signs will be posted to guide motorists to use Hoffman Boulevard to bypass the closure. Traffic on southbound Route 837 will also be restricted to a single lane during the work.

and another:

Brodhead Road Bridge Replacement Begins June 4 in Moon Township

PennDOT District 11 is announcing work on a $1.2 million project to replace the bridge that carries Brodhead Road (Route 3077) over Flaugherty Run in Moon Township, Allegheny County, will begin Monday, June 4 weather permitting.

The project will remove an existing I-beam bridge and replace it with a new structure. Minor roadway work and other improvements will occur in the bridge area just west of Flaugherty Run Road (Route 3089). The prime contractor is the Golden Triangle Construction Company, Inc. of Imperial, PA.

Beginning at 7 a.m. on June 4, traffic in the bridge area will be reduced to a single 12-foot wide lane. Temporary signals will control stop-and-go traffic. Barrier will be placed to separate traffic from the work area.

Due to the 12-foot width restriction, trucks will be detoured using the following routes:

From northwest in Beaver County

Take Route 151 east

Make right onto Route 51

Follow Route 51 east to Flaughtery Run Road

Make right on Flaughtery Run Road

End detour at Brodhead Road

From south

Same detour in opposite direction

Traffic will remain in this pattern through mid-November. About 7,790 vehicles use this area of Brodhead Road on an average day. Average daily truck volume is 490. Motorists are advised to use caution and expect stop conditions and possible delays when traveling through the area.

yet another:

Sewickley Oakmont Road Improvements Begin June 4 in Pittsburg

PennDOT District 11 is announcing work to improve Sewickley Oakmont Road (Route 4022) in Ross Township, Allegheny County, will begin on Monday, June 4 weather permitting.

Crews will be upgrading drainage and milling and resurfacing about one mile of Sewickley Oakmont Road from Route 19 (Perry Highway) to Rochester Road (Route 4011). Lane closures and restrictions will occur in the work areas from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through June 22. Additional restrictions will occur as work progresses.

The project is included in a $3.6 million contract with A. Folino Construction of Oakmont, PA, for improvements on several roadways in Allegheny County.

last one!

Route 88 Water Line Replacement Begins Next Week in Bethel Park

PennDOT District 11, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania American Water Company (PAWC), is announcing work to install a new water line on Route 88 (Library Road) in Bethel Park Borough, Allegheny County, will begin on Tuesday, May 29 weather permitting.

Crews from Golden Triangle Construction Company, Inc. of Imperial, PA, under a contract with PAWC, will be removing an existing 8-inch line and replacing it with a new 12-inch line from Church Hill Road (Route 3022) to Berryman Avenue (Route 3011). Single lane alternating use traffic will occur from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. as needed weekdays through late July.

Flag crews will assist traffic moving through the work areas. Stop conditions should be expected. Motorists should use caution, slow down and allow extra time when traveling through the area.

and another (turns out they really do know the pavement markings are invisible around here, it's just that mostly nobody cares):

Pavement Marker Improvements Continue Next Week in Allegheny County

PennDOT District 11 is announcing work to improve roadway visibility and safety with reflective pavement markers on state routes in various locations in Allegheny County will continue on Tuesday, May 29, weather permitting.

Crews will be replacing reflective lenses in existing pavement markers. Work will occur as a slow-moving operation with possible lane closures and alternating use traffic flow from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday-Friday nights through June 8 on the following roadways:

Route 30 (Lincoln Highway/Ardmore Boulevard) through various municipalities between Wilkinsburg and Westmoreland County,

Route 51 (Clairton/Hayden/Saw Mill Run Boulevard) through various municipalities between the Elizabeth Bridge in Elizabeth Borough to the Parkway West (I-376) in the City of Pittsburgh.

Green Acres Contracting Company is the prime contractor.

Route 51 Preliminary Work for Landslide Repair Next Week in Stowe Township

PennDOT District 11 is announcing work to conduct geotechnical research for a future landslide repair project on Route 51 (Island Avenue) in Stowe Township, Allegheny County, will occur on Wednesday and Thursday, May 30-31 weather permitting.

Crews will be performing drilling operations on Route 51 between Municipal and Duke streets (west of McKees Rocks Bridge). Single lane alternating use traffic will occur as needed in the work area from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Armstrong Drilling, Inc. will perform the work.

They're cleaning the Blvd of the Allies Bridge, closing some roads down there near the Jail Trail/Duck Hollow:

Traffic Advisory

Boulevard of the Allies Bride Washing Begins Sunday Night in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh – PennDOT District 11 is announcing work to clean bridges on the Boulevard of the Allies (Route 885) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will begin on Sunday, June 24 weather permitting.

Lane closures will occur as needed in both directions on the Boulevard of the Allies and on Second Avenue and Ross Street beneath the bridges from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights through July 2.

railroad inspections out West:

Railroad Bridge Inspections Friday and Sunday in West Mifflin

PennDOT District 11 is announcing inspection activities on railroad bridges in West Mifflin Borough, Allegheny County, will occur Wednesday- Sunday, June 20-24, weather permitting.

Lane closures and traffic restrictions will occur as needed in the following railroad bridge areas:

Friday, June 22

Buttermilk Hollow Road (Route 2040) between Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard (Route 2045) and Thompson Run Road (Route 2052); 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, June 24

Delwar Road (Route 2047) near the Lebanon Church Road (Route 2040) intersection; 6 a.m. to noon

PennDOT is not involved in this work.

i don't think that penndot is involved with this, but i noticed a sign at the pedestrian bridge in shadyside (that goes to the trek store, etc.) that it is closed today through the 22nd.

also of note, the serpentine/switchbacky part of CMU (if you take the parking garage from neville the back way) has been closed for at least a week and was still closed earlier this week.

i biked from neville up through cmu, and around to frew street on sunday morning. i don't remember crashing through any barriers.

i think stef is talking about the route under/through the gates-hillman complex. it takes you from neville up to forbes (behind hamburg hall)

is there a different way up than this? note that about halfway up, you can head up through the garden to get up to nsh and smith/hamburg.

edited to add: perhaps that little path through the garden is what she's talking about? it is windy and switchbacky, but i sort of thought the switchback referred to the part going up past wean and underneath hamerschlag. i guess i wasn't paying attention to that little path.

yeah the garden switchback is what has been closed (for landscaping, i think). it stopped me twice last week.

Yeah I was referring to the one melange mentions.. It goes under the elevated lit pedestrian walkway (with changing colors) that will eventually drop you at Forbes near Morewood.

The rest of the 31st Street Bridge to close Monday

Now it will REALLY be closed. The 31st Street Bridge, already off-limits to Route 28 traffic, will be closed to everyone, including pedestrians, starting at about 6 a.m. on Monday.

This will allow removal and replacement of the four bridge sections closest to Route 28. Those weren't part of the 2007 rehabilitation of the rest of the bridge; PennDOT knew that it would be tearing out and replacing them as part of the Route 28 megaproject, which will create a grade-separated interchange allowing through traffic on Route 28 to go by without waiting at a traffic signal.

The closure to Lawrenceville traffic will continue into late December. The closure to Route 28 traffic will continue until late 2013. Traffic headed to Washington's Landing from Lawrenceville will be detoured using the 16th Street Bridge to River Avenue.

Inbound Route 28 will be restricted to a single lane from 8 p.m. today (Friday) to 8 a.m. Saturday between the former Millvale Industrial Park location and the East Ohio Street exit. The right lane will be closed. Crews will continue installing caissons for retaining wall construction.

PennDOT has changed the start dates for two new restrictions associated with the Veterans Bridge-Interstate 579 rehab project. Closure of the ramp from southbound Route 28 to the southbound Veterans Bridge is now scheduled for 8 p.m. July 11. It will stay closed around the clock through late July. Southbound lane restrictions on the bridge will begin at the same time, with two narrow lanes open for much of the day but only a single narrow lane from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily. Single-lane traffic may be moved up to 4 p.m. some days -- PennDOT will announce this in advance.

CITY OF PITTSBURGH MILLING AND PAVING SCHEDULE FOR NEXT WEEK:

MILLING

Monday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Spring Way from 16th St to 30th St

Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Mountain St from Jonquil St to Parkwood St

Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• W Woodford Ave from Brownsville Rd to Plateau St

Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Colescott from Noblestown to Shadyhill

PAVING

Monday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Rutherford St from Hampshire St to Bayonne St

• Goldstrom Ave from Rutherford Ave to Banksville Rd

Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Spring Way from 16th St to 30th St

Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Spring Way from 16th St to 30th St

Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• W Woodford Ave from Brownsville Rd to Plateau St

• Mountain St from Jonquil St to Parkwood St

yeah, spring way is definitely milled.

that sucks, car-free (almost) 31SB was a great place to ride and I didn't know it was going away. At least I managed not one but two farewell rides in the past week, even if I didn't know it at the time.

...create a grade-separated interchange allowing through traffic on Route 28 to go by without waiting at a traffic signal.

31st Street bridge is going to be a real bummer.

Does this mean 31st st bridge will be like Highland Park Bridge now, with it's essential highway onramp status? Or will they keep it semi-sane, like RD Flemming?

From the Google machine: "Crews will remove and replace the last four spans on the north end of bridge necessary to create a new grade-separated interchange with Route 28 and Rialto Street. These four spans were not rehabilitated as part of the 31st Street Bridge project completed in 2007 in anticipation of the future improvements on Route 28."

What I think that means - and how it appears, is there will be ramps to Rt. 28 (which nobody is going to ride on a bike anyway... I think...), and then a grade-separated connection (either below or above, I'm not sure) to Rialto Street, so that Rt. 28 flows overhead without a traffic light.

Route 28's new grade-separated through route will be below the various intersections. There are a bunch of artists' renderings in the big Project Presentation PDF on this page.

It looks like there will still be traffic lights at the north end of the bridge, which might help limit speeds.

Looking at the drawing, It appears to me that the light at the end of the bridge is to control traffic between the bridge and Rialto Street. I think the intention of the project is to eliminate lights on 28 itself.

Looking at those drawings, how does a pedestrian navigate the north end of the bridge? There are currently two sidewalks on the bridge, but nothing in that huge intersection. Oh and I love the 3 foot sidewalk along 28 in the one drawing – how generious!

my guess from the drawings is that the light that looks like it's in the middle of 28 is redundant. they both operate on the same cycle, and this way the light at river isn't so far away from rialto. i imagine this working much like the 40th street interchange, except with a street on the north side of the river to accommodate as well.

also: i'm glad they're not just closing rialto.

So they are adding another bridge to the stock that we can't currently maintain? Also, too bad the sidewalk on the 31st Street Bridge isn't as wide in the rendering as well. It's barely wide enough for a bike and jogger to safely squeeze passed each other.

I guess I knew the low-traffic version of this bridge was not a long-term reality, but is the upshot here that getting from the bridge down to the island (aka getting from Lawrenceville to the North Side Trail) is about to be "enhanced" the same way that the access from Bates Street to the Jail Trail was "enhanced"?

It looks like there will still be traffic lights at the north end of the bridge, which might help limit speeds.

Sadly, I don't think that is a realistic prospect. It's the better part of a mile between the lights, and given my daily experience on Fifth Avenue, that is way more than enough space for drivers to go too fast.

Oh and I love the 3 foot sidewalk along 28 in the one drawing – how generious!

I didn't spot any 3 foot sidewalk, but the drawings show a 5 foot sidewalk on page 10, along the NW edge of Route 28. I think that's wider than the existing sidewalk at that spot.

getting from the bridge down to the island (aka getting from Lawrenceville to the North Side Trail) is about to be "enhanced" the same way that the access from Bates Street to the Jail Trail was "enhanced"?

I guess the official way to do that from a traffic lane will be to make a left onto River Street at the end of the bridge. If there's some possibility for an alternative and unofficial path, the artist's renderings aren't detailed enough to show it. (What's the current unofficial route that you're worried about losing? Make a right onto the shoulder of Route 28, then go down the slope and over the railroad tracks to the trail?)

Sadly, I don't think that is a realistic prospect.

My point was that northbound drivers would be faced with the same traffic light they got before construction started, so perhaps speeds on the bridge would also be comparable to pre-construction speeds. In other words, I don't see why the Route 28 project would lead to traffic on the bridge being any faster than it was before the project started. This was in response to ejwme's "Does this mean 31st st bridge will be like Highland Park Bridge now, with it's essential highway onramp status?"

@Steven: there are going to be NO lights on 28 N or 28 S at either the 31st or 40th Street Bridges. None. Zero. Nada. The free passage of traffic past those bridges is the whole reason for the grade separation ramps, and the "bridge over" at the 31st Street Bridge to Rialto Street: to allow traffic to pass through without lights.

Edit: Mea culpa, and apologies, Steven. I misread your note. You were referring to BRIDGE traffic, not Rt. 28 traffic. Oops. Agreed. Looks like bridge traffic would be essentially unchanged relative to pre-construction conditions.

I guess now we get to see whether Mt Yinzmore survives or not.

What's the current unofficial route that you're worried about losing?

No unofficial route (in either case; there was a city-sponsored sign indicating access to the trail from Bates) but the parallel I had in mind was that a highly useful bike route is about to be made a lot less appealing in the name of facilitating access to and from a freeway.

@ieverhart: I'm not sure the access (I assume you mean from 31st Bridge to River Road) will be any different than it was pre-construction. There was/will be a light at the end of the bridge, there was/will be a light at the end of the on-ramps from 28.

So how is it less appealing?

the only difference will be for people already on 28. for everyone else it will be the same as before this whole thing started.

So there will be a light at river ave?

Looks like it. You can see the pole for it in the artist's rendering I linked to.

I think cburch has it right. They're keeping the previous arrangement of traffic lights, and just adding through lanes on Route 28 that bypass the lights.

I imagine moving most of the traffic away from the traffic lights will result in different timing for the lights, but I'm still not seeing how this is worse for cyclists (except compared to the bridge-half-closed state we've been enjoying).

Don't worry, if there is a way to make it worse for cyclists I have confidence they will not rest until they've accomplished it.

So how is it less appealing?

In addition to losing the light-traffic reality of construction (which is not really a fair starting point for an apples-to-apples comparison), the bridge is now totally closed for a project that doesn't give any benefits to cyclists, and the induced traffic that always tends to result from these projects, there is always Todd's residual decline in quality.

Huh-wha?

So, are we safe to assume that bikes and pedestrians cannot use sidewalks to get between Rialto Street and the 31st Street Bridge? I.e. exactly the same situation we had prior to all this mess?

Or is there some sort of new crosswalk I missed in the design blueprints? If not, then this project fails to help bikes and pedestrians in the vicinity of the bridge one iota.

I mean I can't speak for the residents of Troy Hill, but I guess there was never terribly too many folks willing to trek up/down Rialto Street following (or preceding) crossing the river. We should be looking at making BETTER ped/bike connections, not maintaining the status quo or making situations WORSE.

*le sigh*

*My apologies for the double-post, must've gotten a bit too excited.*

It should be easier when done as 28 will pass under the bridge instead of across it. It won't be much better, but it should be at least a slight improvement over the pre-construction version.

Will the bottom of Rialto be fixed in time for the dirty dozen? That is the bigger question.

So, are we safe to assume that bikes and pedestrians cannot use sidewalks to get between Rialto Street and the 31st Street Bridge?

The artist's rendering shows crosswalks from the downstream side of the bridge all the way to a sidewalk running on the NW side of Route 28 in that area. The sidewalk leads NE to Rialto Street and SW to some buildings, and it's five feet wide in at least one spot. There are tiny pedestrians on it, one on the portion to Rialto. FWIW.

Someone just came into The Big Idea to let us know that they're milling Liberty in Bloomfield (I'm assuming it's the part that didn't get done last year) on Monday and Tuesday. Didn't say when it would be repaved, just that it would.

I asked how soon the bike lanes would be repainted, and he said, "Oh, they'll be repainted."

liberty is milled, yay! i've been waiting for this moment for nearly a decade now.

What part of Liberty? May have to avoid this today.

from i-want-to-say cedarville to baum. it's not bad, really, just a bit slower, especially outbound. milled roads act as de facto traffic calming, which is nice.

hmm, as much fun as it is to pass loads of backed up traffic going up the hill on liberty, I'll probably do the jail trail today.

Not sure if this will be legible, but I got county road maintenance for the week:

PennDOT Allegheny County Maintenance Schedule Aug. 13-17

PennDOT District 11 is announcing the weekly maintenance schedule for Allegheny County, Aug. 13-17.

All activities are weather permitting. Lane closures and restrictions should be expected in work areas. Motorists are urged to call 1-800 FIX ROAD to report roadway concerns on state routes and interstates. Litter and debris removal and pothole patching will occur in various areas as needed.

Allegheny County Schedule

Work Activity

Route

Local Name

Municipality

From

To

Shoulder Cutting

3014

Piney Fork Road

South Park, Jefferson Hills

Brownsville Road Extension

Gill Hall Road

3013

Brownsville Road Extension

South Park

Washington County

Wallace Road

3015

Snowden Road

South Park, Jefferson Hills

Washington County

Cochran Mill Road

3016

Single Track Road

South Park

Piney Fork Road

Snowden Road

3017

Gill Hall Road

Jefferson Hills

Cochran Mills

Washington County

Pipe/Inlet Cleaning

I-376

Various

Route 22

Beaver County

837

Dravosburg Road

Duquesne

Center Street

North Second Street

Inlet Repair

2076

Old Leechburg Road

Plum

Unity-Center Road

New Texas Road

Patching

3053

Seabright Road

North Fayette

North Branch Road

Old Steubenville Pike

3059

North Road

North Fayette

Noblestown-Steubenville Road

North Branch Road

4067

East Hardies Road

Hampton

Route 8

Middle Road

2058

Verona Road

Penn Hills

Frankstown Road

Saltsburg Road

I-376

Parkway East/Central

Various

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Fort Pitt Bridge

Litter Removal

I-79

Various

Washington County

Warrendale

I-279

Parkway North

Various

City of Pittsburgh

I-79

51

Hayden Boulevard

Forward, Elizabeth, Jefferson Hills

Airport Road

Old Clairton Road

28

Various

Highland Park Bridge

Butler County

22

North Fayette

Washington County

Tonidale

Crack Sealing

4068

Bakerstown Road, Warrendale Road

Pine, Richland

Route 19

Route 8

Sweeping

837

River Road

Jefferson Hills

Station Street

Lebanon Road

Drainage

1020

Russellton-Dorseyville Road

West Deer

Saxonburg Boulevard

Rich Hill Road

ok, that's ugly, but I can't do better.

eta link: ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/Districts/District11/maint/maintenance_schedules/Allegheny.pdf

the Millvale trail will be exciting Thursday as well. Anybody know if they will be removing the beams from the back channel? Or are they just dumping them?

Details:

31st Street Bridge Back Channel Beam Removal Next Thursday in Pittsburgh

PennDOT District 11 is announcing work remove beams from the back channel of the 31st Street Bridge over the Allegheny River in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur next Thursday Aug. 16, weather permitting.

The removal of the final two outside steel beams will occur between approximately 10-11 a.m. Thursday. For safety precautions, traffic in both directions on Route 28 and other roadways near the 31st Street Bridge will be stopped for approximately 15 minutes while the removal occurs. Crews will use demolition techniques to drop the beams into the back channel of the river.

Most sections of the final four spans of the 31st Street Bridge have already been removed. The work is necessary to create a new grade-separated interchange with Route 28, 31st Street and Rialto Street. These four spans were not rehabilitated as part of the 31st Street Bridge project completed in 2007 in anticipation of the future improvements on Route 28.

Motorists should expect possible stop conditions and delays.

The $36.4 million fourth phase of Route 28 improvements include: widening and reconstruction to provide a new grade-separated interchange at the 31st Street Bridge Intersection; roadway reconstruction; new median barrier and signal installation; replacing a section of the 31st Street Bridge; modifications to the River Avenue Viaduct; sidewalk and wall construction; demolition; drainage; utility relocations; highway and sign lighting; sign structures; ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) facilities, and other improvements between the Chestnut Street overpass and the 40th Street Bridge. The prime contractor is the Trumbull Corporation of Pittsburgh.

"...ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) facilities..."

They're putting in bike facilities!?!

Snark.

I think the ITS is the thing that helps the lights turn when traffic needs them to. I hope it applies to bikes on roads where they're permitted. So... maybe?

I just don't want the kayak people to have to carry their boats over rusty beams blocking the channel. It's super shallow back there some days.