Work to replace escalators will expand at Steel Plaza on Monday, part of a $13.5 million project to replace nine of the moving staircases in Downtown Pittsburgh light rail stations.
Mosites Construction Co. has been working on three other escalators at Steel Plaza since April, and those are expected to reopen in early November. Now, the fourth one will be out of service for replacement, and it should be finished by late March.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit said riders will start to see barricades around the escalator so crews can dismantle and replace it. Stairs and elevators will remain open.
Similar work will start next Monday at the First Avenue Station. That escalator should be replaced by late April.
Meanwhile, work continues to replace four escalators at Wood Street, which was closed over the weekend. It is expected to be closed again from Nov. 6 to Nov. 17, when riders should use the Steel Plaza or Gateway stations.
Wood Street could face an additional closure from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1. New escalators should be in operation there by February.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.