Parkway East closure to impact traffic, Oakland commuters for 2 weeks

One lane of the inbound section of the Parkway East, entrance and exit ramps, and sections of Bates Street in Oakland will be closed for up to 15 days starting Friday evening, PennDOT said.

Department officials say the closures will impact traffic for motorists using the Parkway East, especially those heading into Oakland.

PennDOT District 11 spokesperson Steve Cowan said that drivers commuting to Oakland might want to use alternative routes, as the Bates Street closures will make it difficult to access the neighborhood from the traditional route.

Cowan said the work is part of $7.62 million project at nearby Hazelwood Green, and the extensive closures are about safety as crews work to add a lane to inbound Parkway East. He said closing sections of Bates Street that run underneath the bridge carrying the Parkway East over Bates is for the benefit of drivers and pedestrians.

“Safety is paramount for us. We want to make sure no motorists have issues. That is why we decided on the closures,” said Cowan. “We just can’t have motorists or pedestrians walking under that bridge.”

The single-lane restriction on the Parkway East (inbound I-376) will run from the Saline Street Bridge exit, Mile Marker 73.5, to just before the Boulevard of the Allies exit, Mile Marker 72.5, from 9 p.m. Friday through 9 p.m. June 25.

The South 885/Glenwood off-ramp at Exit 73A from inbound Parkway East will also be closed from June 10 to June 25.

The ramp from Bates Street to outbound Parkway East will close to traffic for about five days, from 9 p.m. June 10 continuously through 5 a.m. June 15.

Southbound Bates Street will close at the Boulevard of the Allies and will also be shut down for about five days from 9 p.m. June 10 continuously through 5 a.m. June 15. Northbound Bates Street at Second Avenue will be closed from 9 p.m. June 10 continuously through 5 a.m. June 15.

However, the ramp at Exit 73B, from inbound Parkway East to North 885/Oakland, will remain open to traffic during the duration of the work.

After the five-day period of continuous Bates Street closures, there will be intermittent overnight closures for the street that PennDOT will announce later.

Cowan said the two-week project will cause the most headaches for drivers traveling into Oakland from the Parkway East.

“I think the major concern is Bates Street,” said Cowan. “Obviously Oakland is a very busy and congested area. That is really going to make driving difficult in that area, during those closures.”

He said those traveling on inbound Parkway East, but not to Oakland, will see some inconvenience, but suggested that motorists simply be aware and slow down while traveling through the construction zone. Cowan said drivers there shouldn’t face too much traffic for the most part.

The purpose of adding a lane to a section of inbound Parkway East is to alleviate the continuous morning backups on the interstate at the Glenwood exit ramp, he said.

The overall roadwork project is expected to be completed by September.

Cowan added that motorists who usually drive to Oakland from the Parkway East should prepare for alternate routes to the large Pittsburgh neighborhood between June 10-25.

PennDOT suggests the following detours for the duration of the project:

• For those usually taking the Glenwood Exit 73A from inbound on Parkway East, drivers should instead continue on the Parkway East to Grant Street exit 71A, then turn right onto First Avenue, followed by a left onto B Street, then a right onto Second Avenue, and finally follow Second Avenue to Bates Street.
• For those who usually take the Bates Street ramp onto outbound Parkway East from Boulevard of the Allies, drivers should instead continue westbound on Boulevard of the Allies, then take the ramp to West 376 toward Downtown/Fort Pitt Bridge, merge onto the Parkway East, then take the lefthand Grant Street ramp at Exit 71A, and then from Grant Street, turn right onto the Boulevard of the Allies and take the ramp to I-376 East toward Monroeville.
• For those who usually take the Bates Street ramp onto outbound Parkway East from Second Avenue, drivers should instead continue westbound on Second Avenue, then turn left onto B Street, followed by a right turn onto First Avenue, then another right turn onto Grant Street, and another right onto Boulevard of the Allies. Finally, take I-376 East ramp toward Monroeville.
• For those who usually travel northbound on Bates Street from Second Avenue to Boulevard of the Allies, drivers should instead turn onto the Hot Metal Bridge from Second Avenue, then turn right onto East Carson Street, then turn right onto the Birmingham Bridge, then take the ramp toward Oakland, turn right onto Forbes Avenue, followed by a right turn onto Craft Avenue, and finally a left turn onto Boulevard of the Allies.
• For those who usually travel southbound on Bates Street from Boulevard of the Allies to Second Avenue, drivers should instead continue westbound on Boulevard of the Allies, take the ramp to West 376 toward Downtown/Fort Pitt Bridge, then merge onto I-376 Parkway East. From there, take the lefthand Grant Street off-ramp Exit 71A, then turn right onto First Avenue, followed by a left turn onto B Street, and finally turn right onto Second Avenue.