Squirrel Hill Tunnel, Edgewood/Swissvale Parkway Ramp Closed this Weekend

The outbound Squirrel Hill Tunnel on the Parkway East and the Edgewood/Swissvale parkway on-ramp will be closed this weekend, April 26 to 29.

The closure will occur from 10 p.m. on Friday through 6 a.m. on Monday. Crews will continue to remove the outbound tunnel ceiling and rehabilitation and preservation work on the outbound bridge over Commercial Street.

The on-ramp from the Edgewood/Swissvale (Exit 77) Interchange to eastbound I-376 will be closed this weekend for work in the immediate vicinity, necessitating the use of the alternative detour which runs through Wilkinsburg Borough. Signs will be posted to guide motorists.

The posted detour will require eastbound traffic to form a single lane exiting at the Squirrel Hill/Homestead interchange (Exit 74). Significant delays should be expected and alternate routes considered. The inbound (westbound) tunnel will remain open while the outbound tunnel is closed, although short-term inbound traffic stoppages may occur for equipment access and material removal.  

To minimize impacts on businesses in Squirrel Hill, which will remain open and accessible, different detours are being used during day and night hours.

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
• Left onto South Braddock Avenue
• Right onto Penn Avenue (Route 380/8)
• Continue through Wilkinsburg
• Slight right onto Ardmore Boulevard
• Access Parkway East in Forest Hills  

 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
• Left onto South Braddock Avenue
• Right onto Penn Avenue (Route 380/8)
• Continue through Wilkinsburg
• Slight right onto Ardmore Boulevard
• Access Parkway East in Forest Hills  

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     

When overall work is completed, vertical clearance in the eastbound tunnel will increase from 13 feet, 6 inches to 14 feet, 9 inches. Additional improvement activities will occur in the tunnel as well to maximize productivity during the closures. 

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