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Parkway West Work Will Squeeze Lanes Down Again

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Emerging from the Fort Pitt Tunnel, you can't miss them.

Channelers on the right will move over to squeeze traffic into two 10-and-a-half-foot lanes.

Some concrete barriers are also on the way in spots.

"We are reconstructing the shoulder along the hillside and that's why we need the space to do that reconstruction work," said Dan Cessna of PennDOT.

To do that means putting a squeeze play on the busiest part of the Parkway West and this seemed to create the biggest issue Monday.

Drivers coming from Route 51 and merging on at Banksville Road outbound no longer have their own lane and merging directly into traffic with a short diminishing acceleration lane makes for some interesting moments.

PennDOT is watching it closely.

"That again is what we're evaluating, but it's a tough play right there," said Cessna.

Unfortunately officials say there isn't really an alternative route. They suggest travelling at a different time.

The new configuration inbound from Roslyn Farms to Greentree is another squeeze. Cessna says the lane width is still 10-and-a-half feet.

PennDOT says the best idea is to drop your speed to the posted 45 miles per hour and don't attempt to pass in a restricted area.

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