Liberty Bridge's Weight Limit Restored To 30 Tons
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - With new reinforcements put in place, the nine-ton weight limit on the Liberty Bridge was lifted Thursday morning.
Now, for the first time since Sept. 2, the weight restriction on the bridge has been restored to 30 tons.
On the upstream side of the bridge, the two parallel reinforcing beams are now well bolted in place.
"The repairs have been made for the strengthening of the truss," says PennDOT District 11 spokesman Dan Cessna.
According to PennDOT, when the entire rehabilitation project on the bridge is completed in 2018, the weight limit could increase to 40 tons.
With the restriction lifted, trucks, buses and tri-axle vehicles under 30 tons can once again use the bridge.
But, still, some drivers need reassuring.
"We would hope that if motorist have anxiety about crossing the bridge, with seeing it now being open three or four days with no issues, people would get over that and understand the safety to the bridge is there and cut their commute times down," Cessna said.
Vehicles exceeding the weight limit will need to use the following detours:
Northbound (Inbound)
· Take Route 51 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard) northbound
· Take the exit to I-376 West/US 19 South toward Carnegie/Airport/West End
· Take Exit 69A toward US 19 South/Banksville Road
· Keep left and loop back to I-376 eastbound toward Fort Pitt Tunnel
· Follow eastbound I-376 through Fort Pitt Tunnel and across the Fort Pitt Bridge
· For access to I-279 destinations follow I-279 signage, all other destinations take exit toward I-376 East/Monroeville
· Take the left exit 71A to Grant Street
· Turn left onto Grant Street
· End detour
Southbound (Outbound) From Downtown Pittsburgh
· Take Grant Street to I-376
· Take the ramp to West I-376 toward Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport
· Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel
· Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road
· Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376
· Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown
· Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel
· End detour
Southbound (Outbound) From Westbound Route 885 (Boulevard of the Allies)
· From the Boulevard of the Allies take the ramp to North I-579 to I-279 Veterans Bridge Exit
· Take the Convention Center/7th Avenue Exit
· Turn right onto Grant Street
· Turn left onto 11th Street
· Continue straight onto the 10th Street Bypass
· Take the I-376 West Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport Exit
· Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel
· Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road
· Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376
· Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown
· Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel
· End detour
Southbound (Outbound) From Route 380 (Bigelow Boulevard)
· From PA 380, take the Consol Center/6th Avenue Exit
· Take the 6th Avenue Exit
· Turn right onto Grant Street
· Turn left onto 11th Street
· Continue straight onto the 10th Street Bypass
· Take the I-376 West Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport Exit
· Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel
· Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road
· Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376
· Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown
· Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel
· End detour
Southbound (Outbound) From I-279 Parkway North
· From southbound I-279, take the I-279 South Fort Pitt Bridge Exit
· Take the South I-279/To I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport Exit
· Take the West I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge Exit
· Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel
· Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road
· Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376
· Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown
· Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel
· End detour
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