Dooker's Hollow Bridge in North Braddock to close through 2021

Dooker’s Hollow Bridge between North Braddock and East Pittsburgh Borough will close Oct. 19 for up to 14 months.

The 80-year-old bridge will be reconstructed, with work expected to last through December 2021.

Project cost is $9.95 million and includes paving, drainage and lighting. Allison Park Contractors from Gibsonia will complete the work.

Dooker’s Hollow was among 43 older bridges slated for replacement in a $62 billion plan laid out in 2016 by the state Transportation Commission.

The 12-year plan also includes a $55 million Highland Park Bridge interchange reconstruction project which is expected to ease bottlenecks along Route 28 at the bridge ramps.

Dooker’s Hollow carries traffic from Bell Avenue and Center Street over O’Connell Boulevard, and sees more than 2,400 vehicles a day, according to Brent Wasko, Allegheny County communications specialist.

The 635-foot arched cantilever truss bridge will be replaced with a 660-foot steel girder span.

Once the bridge is closed, Bell Avenue and Center Street traffic will be detoured along Jones and Baldridge avenues, Sixth Street, Yost and Ardmore boulevards.

When O’Connell Boulevard is closed, traffic will be detoured using Brinton Avenue, Main Street, and Braddock Avenue.

Motorists can expect intermittent closures of O’Connell Boulevard until the bridge shutdown later this month.

For pedestrians, a free shuttle will be provided from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 to 5:30 p.m. weekdays, beginning Oct. 19.

People will be able to board at the intersection of Bell and Jones avenues, along with the intersection of Center Street and Ardmore Boulevard.

Pickups will be at least once every 30 minutes.