PennDOT Gearing Up For Liberty Bridge Renovation In 2016
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - With the work on the Parkway West and the reconstruction of the Route 51 and 88 Interchange now in the rear-view mirror, PennDOT is turning its attention to plans for 2016.
Just like this year, it looks like it's going to be a rough road ahead.
The mega project of 2016 will be the renovation of the Liberty Bridge. It carries about 54,000 vehicles a day and is on the state's list of structurally deficient bridges. However, the work to fix it is going to extend into 2017.
To say this reconstruction is long overdue would be an understatement.
"The bridge is safe. If the bridge wasn't safe, we would close it," said PennDOT's District 11 Executive Dan Cessna.
But, the Liberty Bridge needs a lot of work.
"The reality is there are major structural deficiencies, there is a lot of steel deterioration that we will correct. The entire bridge needs a new deck," Cessna says.
To do that much work, there will be lane closures.
"We won't be able to maintain all lanes during peak travel times," Cessna says.
In the morning, you will still have two lanes inbound to Downtown, but only one outbound. The afternoon rush hour will be a little different.
"Currently, people have three lanes outbound and that will be restricted to two lanes outbound and at the same time, you will only have one lane inbound," Cessna says.
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On nights when the Penguins or Pirates are playing, that single inbound lane could get interesting. So, expect to hear a heavy emphasis on detouring to the Fort Pitt Bridge.
As the work progresses and lanes open and close, there will be times when the two lanes in the same direction could be split with construction in between.
"It is going to be a very, very busy year for travel on the Liberty Bridge," Cessna says. "It will continue until August of 2017."
