Squirrel Hill Tunnel lane closure causing traffic headaches for drivers
Cars and trucks packed the Parkway East outbound Tuesday morning, creating some headaches for folks during the peak rush hours as they returned to work after the long Memorial Day weekend. Be prepared, it could stay that way for a while.
It's the result of closing one lane coming out of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel, causing a backup to the Liberty Bridge.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation crews closed the eastbound, outbound right-hand lane and shoulder from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale Interchange at Exit 77.
PennDOT Assistant District 11 Executive for Construction Doug Thompson said they'll continue to do so through Friday and again during the work week next week as they construct a retaining wall on the parkway outside of the tunnel, near the site of the new Commercial Street bridge.
"We would anticipate that, and you know, we do apologize for those inconveniences," Thompson said.
Then, there will be a break from June 9 to 16 for the U.S. Open in Oakmont.
"We won't have any restrictions on the Parkway East during that time period due to the traffic impacts, the additional traffic we're anticipating to, you know, come into the area during the U.S. Open," Thompson said.
However, they'll be back in place when the tournament ends, and Thompson encourages drivers to try to find different routes out of town. Once they do, he expects your commute to be a little smoother.
"Anytime we have new restrictions out there, anytime we start a project or start new lane restrictions, you know, it does take a few days for people to find alternate routes, you know, it's always worse the first few days," Thompson said.
Patience will be key. More lane restrictions and closures on the Parkway are expected until the project's estimated completion in the summer of 2027.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wall Street Journal
16 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Why Would Musk Pick This Fight with Trump?
They were powerful together. But now the clash between the president and the world's richest man threatens to tear their ambitions apart—if they can't find a way to detente.
Washington Post
18 minutes ago
- Washington Post
As World Pride flows straight into the military parade, DC officials say they're ready for anything
WASHINGTON — Officials in the nation's capital generally express full confidence in their ability to handle large, complicated events and huge crowds. As Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith recently put it, 'We are really the experts in this space when it comes to crowd management.' Over the next eight days. in the sprawling city that is the nation's capital, that expertise will be put to the test.
E&E News
18 minutes ago
- E&E News
International nuclear, mining bills clear hurdle
A Senate panel advanced legislation Thursday that would support new international collaborations on nuclear energy and critical minerals. The pair of bipartisan bills passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by voice vote. S.1801, the 'International Nuclear Energy Act,' would create an office focused on nuclear energy trade and new collaborations with other nations on nuclear energy development and licensing. Advertisement The bill is sponsored by Chair Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah), ENR ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.).
