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PennDOT Prepares For New Round Of Rt. 28 Construction

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – I could sit here and write volumes about what is about to happen on Route 28 but let me sum it up this way.

The potential for a major mess, and morning rush hour traffic jam and delays is very very real.

"I think there could be the potential for some congestion, particularly tomorrow morning," said PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan.

In essence the latest twist will mean most of the Southbound traffic will be restricted to a single lane. Just south of the 31st Street Bridge there will be a split and you will have to make a choice.

"The right hand lane will be dedicated to the East Ohio Street exit," said Cowan.

Stay right and you are going to exit to the North Side -- East Ohio Street and three traffic lights before you can turn left and get back on 28. Stay left and you can get to the North Shore, Veterans Bridge, North Shore Expressway, Fort Duquesne bridge, downtown and the Fort Pitt Bridge.

"The left hand lane will take you to the North Shore or motorists can access the ramps to the Veteran's Bridge or southbound," Cowan said.

So you have two choices. Unfortunately most of the traffic is going to want to stay left. Most being almost 80 percent or about 41,400 drivers a day funneled into one lane. So take it to the bank there will be delays. How bad they will be will depend on the commuting learning curve.

The changes are being made tonight and will be in place for the morning rush hour.

If there is any good news in this it would be that this new traffic pattern will only last about a month and the overall 28 project will wrap up before the end of the year.

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