The New Kensington Bridge that crosses the Allegheny River between East Deer in Allegheny County and New Kensington in Westmoreland County will close for six weeks beginning Monday.
The bridge closes at 9 a.m. Monday so crews from Swank Construction Co. can replace dams and bearings, pave the surface and install a latex overlay on it. The sidewalk will remain open during construction.
The closure is the latest step in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s complicated $24.6 million project to upgrade the bridge. In addition to the bridge, the work will require closure of 10th Street under the eastern side of the bridge in New Kensington so crews can work on the bridge.
Last week, northbound Freeport Road that passes under the bridge in East Deer closed until late September so crews can conduct spall repairs and jacking operations on the bridge.
The bridge closure will require an extensive detour:
Traffic north of the bridge should follow Freeport Road north until it becomes West Seventh Avenue, turn right on Route 366, cross the Tarentum Bridge and stay on Route 366 toward New Kensington onto Stevenson Boulevard. Then turn right on Seventh Street (Route 56) and right on Industrial Boulevard to the New Kensington Bridge.
Motorists south of the New Kensington Bridge should take Industrial Boulevard eastbound and turn left on Seventh Street and left on Stevenson Boulevard. Bear right toward Route 366 onto Tarentum Bridge Road and cross the bridge, then turn left on East Seventh Avenue and follow that until it becomes West Seventh and Freeport Road to the bridge.
During the bridge closure, Elite Coach Transportation will provide a shuttle service. The shuttle will take riders to New Kensington Center City Plaza, the Tarentum Park-and-Ride lot and Citizens Plaza Apartments; hours of service will be posted at each location.
Jason Zang, PennDOT’s acting executive for Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties, said this should be the last of extended traffic disruptions during the project, which should be finished by the end of next year.
“There will be some traffic restrictions, but it shouldn’t be anything major,” Zang said. “They’ll be working around traffic.”
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.