Lengthy West Carson St. Closure Could Cause Major Traffic Headaches
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It's going to be a rough road ahead for some commuters. A major road construction project starts later this month and drivers will have to deal with it for the next two years.
PennDOT is going to close West Carson Street, which doubles as Route 51 from the West End Bridge to McKees Rocks.
With our rivers and hills, we're confined in our ways to escape town, and this escape route is just about toast.
"We will be closing the northbound lanes," said Steve Cowan, PennDOT District 11's spokesperson.
It will close northbound from the West End Circle all the way to McKees Rocks.
"The detour route will send motorists over the West End Bridge," said Cowan.
Then, north onto Route 65, to a left onto the McKees Rocks Bridge, and then back to 51.
"Wish there was a better solution, but I guess we're stuck with it," said Holly MacDonald, of Tri-State Office Furniture.
They're stuck with it because the 335-foot long viaduct that holds up the northbound lanes is literally crumbling.
"It's structurally deficient and it needs replaced," Cowan said.
About 16,000 drivers a day will be displaced. The road is busy throughout the day, and the northbound drivers will be forced onto the detour route.
"We will deploy police officers as necessary at key intersections," said Cowan.
But it's not just drivers affected; the Port Authority sends 300 outbound buses a day from the city to the West Busway. They also will have to detour and 6,000 passengers a day will have to settle for a longer ride home.
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