PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The 31st Street Bridge Interchange with Route 28 closed Sunday and will remain closed for the next three years.

Traffic signals at the bridge are shut off and access to Rialto Street is closed through 2014.

Drivers have dealt with a lot of changes as part of the reconstruction of Route 28, but a new challenge awaits them.

Some people said it’s actually a change for the better.

In real estate, it’s all about location. Gay Fogarty has spent 11 years living in Washington’s Landing. She thinks she’s found the best location around.

“I love living here. It’s the best place to live in the city. I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” Fogarty said.

Of course, while it’s quiet and peaceful down below, above, it means dealing with the hustle and bustle of the Route 28 Expansion Project.

Now, that means the link between Route 28 and Herr’s Island is no longer accessible.

The traffic signals at the 31st Street Bridge are now covered. That means no stopping, which made for a smooth ride Monday.

The prep work has also meant moving the train tracks and moving a 60-inch water main, which led to some inconveniences.

Lost in the talk about detours and the closure of the 31st Street Bridge is one simple fact. The 31st Street Bridge isn’t actually closed.

You can ride it all the way from the Strip District to Herr’s Island. The people who live down in Washington’s Landing said despite the work and all the potential confusion, this might actually be a good thing.

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