Squirrel Hill Tunnel Weekend Closures Resume in Late March

Single direction weekend closures of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel on the Parkway East will resume in late March.

Both directions will not be closed simultaneously, according to PennDOT spokesman Jim Struzzi. The first closure is planned in the outbound (eastbound) tunnel during the weekend of March 22-25 from 11 p.m. on Friday through 6 a.m. on Monday.

Crews will begin work to 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. Additional, multiple improvement activities will be occurring in the tunnel as well to maximize productivity during the closure.  

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. 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 (see attached maps). 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  

Motorists are reminded to use all open lanes to the single lane merge point on the Parkway East. PennDOT asks that drivers be courteous to other motorists and allow them to merge. The effectiveness of traffic flow entering the detour route is highly dependent on driver behavior.

Using all lanes and allowing a consistent, courteous merge will reduce congestion and delay and help traffic move off the Parkway East through the detour. 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 Bellefield 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 following additional closures are planned through the month of April; however it is important to note 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.

PennDOT reminds motorists the tunnels remain open weekdays with only single lane closures occurring weeknights.  

For general information, detour route travel times and traffic cameras, go to www.dot.state.pa.us/district11 and click the Squirrel Hill Tunnel Rehabilitation Project link on the right. The travel time and camera links are in the lower right hand corner along with other detour information. Motorists are advised to visit the website before traveling and plan trips accordingly. (Note: You may need to wait for the screen to refresh to view cameras. Cameras will only be active when detour is in use.)         

The $49.5 million project to rehabilitate the Squirrel Hill Tunnel includes updating electrical, lighting, air control and ventilation systems, structural repairs to the walls and arched ceiling, tile repairs, installation of a water line and other improvements.

To minimize impacts on the traveling public, rehabilitation work on the bridge that carries the Parkway East over Commercial Street will be performed as part of the tunnel project. Expansion dam on ramps at the Edgewood/Swissvale interchange (Exit 77) will also be replaced. Overall work will conclude in early summer 2014.

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