Parkway East work planned this weekend
The westbound (inbound) Squirrel Hill Tunnel on the Parkway East (Interstate 376) in Pittsburgh will be closed this weekend.
The westbound closure will occur from 9 p.m. today through 5 a.m. Monday. Signs will be posted to guide motorists. The posted detour will require westbound traffic to form a single lane exiting at the Edgewood-Swissvale interchange. Significant delays should be expected and alternate routes considered. The outbound (eastbound) tunnel will remain open, although short-term traffic stoppages may occur for equipment access and material removal.
Work will include the removal and replacement of roadway slabs, expansion dam replacement, removal of existing lights and a test of the ventilation system.
To minimize impacts on businesses, different detours are being used during day and night hours.
The state Department of Transportation has made improvements at key intersections and police will be posted to keep traffic moving on the posted detours.
PennDOT has created a web page for the project the features general information and detour route travel times and cameras. Go to www.dot.state.pa.us/district11 and click the Squirrel Hill Tunnel Rehabilitation Project link on the right. The travel time and camera links are in the lower right corner along with other detour information.
The $49.5 million project to rehabilitate the Squirrel Hill Tunnel includes updating electrical, lighting, air control and ventilation systems, structural repairs to the walls and arched ceiling, tile repairs, installation of a water line and other improvements.