Highland Park Bridge Ramp To Rt. 28 Northbound Closed For Several Months
By: Shelley Bortz and Briana Smith/KDKA-TV News
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A busy corridor for commuters is about to become complicated even for seasoned Pittsburgh drivers.
At 7 a.m. on Monday, the ramp from the Highland Park Bridge to Rt. 28 Northbound in Aspinwall closed.
The ramp will be closed so crews can renovate the bridge, install sound walls and improve the drainage system.
"I can't tell you how many times I've been like oh crap," said Praise Waters.
WATCH: Briana Smith reports
Waters travels the Highland Park Bridge often. And as a mother, she said that she fears this area when her children are in the car.
"Someone is coming down and can't see you clearly, or there's enough traffic backed up that there's just not enough visibility for all of the lanes that stack up right at the bottom of that base," Waters said.
PennDOT said the project is part of the $47 million Route 28 Highland Park Interchange Project. The project will last until late June.
"I feel bad for people who have to travel that way," said one driver on Monday.
It hasn't been 24 hours, and the closure is already causing headaches for drivers.
Hannah Andrusky said, "It's only supposed to be a 15-minute drive. But you got to leave 40 minutes early because traffic is so backed up."
Andrusky works at the Walmart on Freeport Road. KDKA caught up with her after she drove the detour for the first time.
While Freeport Road is already a busy main thoroughfare, drivers said that the ramp closure is making it worse.
"They tell you to be 15 minutes early. Now, you have to leave another 20 minutes early on top of that," said Jayson Marshall.
If you usually use this ramp as part of your travel, here's one detour you can take:
- From the Highland Park Bridge, take the ramp to Aspinwall.
- Follow Freeport Road to Fox Chapel Road
- Turn left onto Fox Chapel Road
- Take another left onto the Rt. 28 Northbound ramp
Click here for more detour information and routes provided by PennDOT.
