Daily closures of Becks Run Road in Baldwin Borough begin amid water main upgrade
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - About 14,000 people travel on Becks Run Road in Baldwin daily. Now, part of it will be closed for more than a year until at least spring 2025, to replace about three miles of water mains.
Bob Baumgardner lives a quarter mile away from Becks Run Road and drives on it all the time to go shopping and see his grandson.
"Every week, I'm using it," Baumgardner said.
However, now he'll have to find another route for some time, at least for the two-mile stretch from Carson Street to East Agnew Road.
"It's going to be a giant inconvenience," Baumgardner said. "I'm going to waste gas."
Pennsylvania American Water contractors are installing two new 42-inch water mains along the road that supply water from the Monongahela River to the Hays Mine Treatment Plant, as a part of a $34 million project. It's water that serves 137,000 people in Allegheny County.
Expect crews to work weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Residents, local businesses and customers, Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses, and emergency vehicles will get limited access through the construction zone. Otherwise, you'll need to use a detour until around summer 2025, when the company plans to complete the project.
It will take Baumgardner more time to get around.
"Oh, jeez, that's got to be three, four miles, as opposed to just going right down Becks Run Road," Baumgardner said.
It will also create possibly more traffic to the surrounding neighborhood, where you can find David Kolski taking a walk.
"Now, we're undetermined about how much traffic we're going to get, you know, in the future," Kolski said.
There's only so much one can do about construction. You can just hope for the best and stay patient.
"Good luck to everybody trying to get into work," Kolski said.
"Well, I guess you have no choice," Baumgardner said.
For northbound traffic, the detour will lead from Becks Run Road onto Agnew Road, then Joseph Street, Glass Run Road, and East Carson Street.
Southbound traffic will detour from East Carson Street to Glass Run Road, Joseph Street, Agnew Street, and back to Becks Run Road.