Pittsburgh Regional Transit will begin a yearlong project to repave the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway this summer, but the work shouldn’t interrupt service on the busy roadway.
Greg O’Hare, the agency’s assistant director of capital projects, told the performance oversight committee last week all 7 miles of the busway will receive improvements. From Downtown Pittsburgh to Wilkinsburg, crews will mill off about 1½ inches of asphalt and cover it with a new layer, and concrete will be patched between Wilkinsburg and Swissvale.
The road surface has potholes and rough surface in some areas, O’Hare said. Additionally, concrete side walls along the busway are spalling and showing other signs of wear that need to be repaired, he said.
The busway opened in the mid-1980s, and the surface hasn’t been improved since 2010, he said. At that time, the agency covered the concrete between Wilkinsburg and Downtown with 6 inches of asphalt to save money.
O’Hare said the project will begin in the summer and be done in sections to minimize the effect on busway traffic. One alternating lane of traffic will remain open at all times, and all lanes will be open during rush hours.
Some work also will be done overnight.
“We don’t anticipate much impact on service,” O’Hare said.
The project is scheduled to last a year, but there will be a break during the winter, when producers don’t make asphalt.
The oversight committee recommended the full board approve a $7.7 million contract for the project with Lindy Paving Inc. when it meets Friday.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.