Prepare for 'Significant Delays' on Parkway This Weekend

PennDOT will close the outbound Squrirrel Hill Tunnel this weekend, March 22-25.

"Significant delays should be expected and alternate routes considered," according to a PennDOT press release.

The closure begins at 11 p.m. Friday and will last until 6 a.m. Monday. A posted detour will require traffic to form a single lane exiting the Squirrel Hill/Homestead exit.

The inbound tunnel will remain open, although short-term traffic stoppages may occur for equipment access and material removal.  

To minimize impacts on Squirrel Hill businesses, which will remain open and accessible, different detours are being used during day and night hours. PennDOT has made improvements at key intersections and police will be posted to keep traffic moving on the posted detour. 

Daylight detour (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.) 

• Exit at Squirrel Hill (Exit 74)
• Make left onto Forward Avenue
• Continue taking slight right and stay on Forward Avenue
• Left onto Beechwood Boulevard
• Right onto Forbes Avenue
• Right onto South Braddock Avenue
• End detour at outbound Parkway East on-ramp  

Night detour (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.)

• Exit at Squirrel Hill (Exit 74)
• Make left onto Forward Avenue
• Continue slight left/straight onto Murray Avenue
• Right onto Forbes Avenue
• Right onto South Braddock Avenue
• End detour at outbound Parkway East on-ramp  

If significant congestion and delay are occurring during the outbound closures, PennDOT suggests the following alternative:

• From eastbound I-376, take the Forbes Avenue (Exit 72A) to Oakland
• Continue on Forbes Avenue through Oakland
• Make left onto South Bellafield Avenue
• Make right onto Fifth Avenue
• Continue east on Fifth Avenue
• Make right onto Penn Avenue (Route 380/8)
• Continue through Wilkinsburg
• Access Parkway East in Forest Hills     

The closure is necessary so crews can remove the outbound tunnel ceiling and continue rehabilitation and preservation work on the outbound bridge over Commercial Street. When overall work is completed, vertical clearance in the eastbound tunnel will increase from 13 feet, 6 inches to 14 feet, 9 inches. 

The following additional closures are planned through the month of April; however, this schedule is tentative and subject to change based on work progress and other variables:

• April 5-8, outbound closure
• April 19-22, outbound closure
• April 26-29, outbound closure

Additional closures will be announced in the future as progress is evaluated.