Squirrel Hill Tunnel To Close This Weekend
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- This weekend, drivers that use the Parkway East will have to take a detour around the Squirrel Hill tunnel.
The outbound lanes will be closed all weekend, beginning at 11 p.m. Friday.
The work will result in increasing the height of the tunnel from 13 feet, 6 inches tall to 14 feet, 9 inches tall.
PennDOT will have signs posted to guide drivers along detours.
Here's the information on closure times and detours from PennDOT:
To minimize impacts on businesses in Squirrel Hill, which will remain open and accessible, different detours are being used during day and night hours. 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
Dan Cessna
Motorists are reminded to use all open lanes to the single lane merge point on the Parkway East. Please 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. Zipper! 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 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
The work is part of an almost $50 million project, which aims to make many updates to the tunnel, including ventilation, water line, tile and structural repairs.
PennDOT is also planning on closing the tunnel on these dates -- weather permitting:
April 19-22, outbound closure
April 26-29, outbound closure
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