PennDOT finishes project on East Carson Street, one of region’s most dangerous areas for pedestrians

It took several years of planning and three years of construction, but Pittsburgh and the state Department of Transportation have mostly completed paving, beautification and pedestrian safety work along East Carson Street on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

The results are wider, brighter intersections with bump-outs and islands in locations to reduce the distance to cross the street; lower lights in the middle of blocks so pedestrians can see and be seen; and fresh pavement to replace the pock-marked surface. PennDOT pushed for the safety improvements because the area known for its busy night life regularly topped the list as the region’s most dangerous location for pedestrians.

Candace A. Gonzalez, executive director of the South Side Chamber of Commerce, said the project was “a big disruption” for businesses but called the results “a big plus for the South Side.”

“We are very pleased they are mostly done,” she said. “We certainly needed the work done.”

The work involved two projects done back to back at a cost of about $19.3 million.

First, in 2019, Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure spent about $3 million to install 97 lower pedestrian lights between South 10th and South 25th streets, 60 new sidewalk trees between 17th and 25th streets, and flowering baskets from 10th to 17th streets. The decorative lights installed in the middle of blocks are 15 to 20 feet high to light sidewalks for pedestrians, compared to street lights about 25 feet high to illuminate roadways. 

The pedestrian lights are like lanterns at the top of the poles, and the street lights installed by PennDOT hang over the intersections. They have similar styles, black steel poles and old-style lights.

PennDOT started its $16.3 million project in spring 2020 to upgrade the 2½ miles between the Smithfield Street Bridge and South 33rd Street. Besides paving, the work included bump-outs and wider, better marked crosswalks at most intersections; 11 new traffic signals; 10 super bus stops where two buses at a time can pull out of traffic to load and unload riders; and islands to help pedestrians cross particularly wide areas at 19th and 22nd streets.

Golden Triangle Construction faced a number of issues, including working around active businesses and discovering utility vaults in unexpected locations, such as under a fire hydrant.

“That was a very challenging project,” said Jason Zang, an assistant district executive for PennDOT who oversees construction. “Just working around 100 years of utilities is always going to create some problems you didn’t expect.”

Crews have some small items to finish and a few utility poles will be replaced next spring, but most of the work has been completed.

Timothy Eggert, president of the South Side Chamber, acknowledged there were “positives and negatives” with the project, but he’s happy with the results.

“It seemed like there was construction on every other corner,” he said. “[The work] certainly made it safer for pedestrians, especially crossing East Carson.”

The street work came at a time when the business district was dealing with a spurt of violence and disruption that led to a greater police presence and changes in how some late-night businesses operate. Those changes and the street improvements should help the neighborhood return to its bustling past, Eggert said.

“I think everyone has a good plan in place to prevent those safety issues, or at least limit them as much as possible,” he said. “I think the South Side doesn’t get enough publicity when there are good-related things that happen here.”

Ms. Gonzalez noted that with the major work on East Carson finished, other projects should move forward next year. They include the renovation of Esser’s Plaza at East Carson and South 12th streets, where new benches, a garden and a lawn are planned.