Two construction seasons of traffic restrictions begin soon for about 25,000 daily motorists who use Business Route 22 in Pittsburgh’s eastern suburbs.
The $23.8 million project by Golden Triangle Construction will run the length of the busy business corridor, from the eastbound exit ramp from the Parkway East at Wilkins, through Monroeville to Route 48-Mosside Boulevard. The project will involve a series of traffic restrictions at various times.
Those were to begin on Monday night, but have been pushed back indefinitely due to the weather.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said that westbound traffic on Business 22 will cross over to the eastbound lanes on the bridge over Lower Rodi Road. Crews will upgrade the westbound lanes through mid-June, when traffic will be shifted to westbound lanes for work on the eastbound side of the bridge through mid-July.
One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction during the work, but the northbound ramp from Lower Rodi Road to eastbound Business 22 will be closed around the clock, and traffic will be detoured.
The lengthy detour has motorists continue past the closed ramp to westbound Business 22 and onto the Parkway East. Take the Route 130 exit toward Churchill, turn left on Route 130, left on Churchill Road and back on the Parkway East to the Wilkins exit onto Business 22.
Later this summer, there will be additional lane restrictions while crews conduct milling and resurfacing, base repairs, curb and sidewalk upgrades, drainage work, guide rail replacement, and installation of new signs and pavement markings. There also will be another crossover for preservation work between Rodi Road and the Hall Station Bridge.
Next year, there will be a full closure of the ramp from Business 22 to Monroeville Mall for preservation work on the ramp.
The project should be finished by the end of the 2024 construction season.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.