Major traffic restrictions begin this evening on the Parkway East as a $70.1 million improvement project kicks into high gear.
Beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, traffic will be reduced to two lanes in each direction instead of three between the Churchill exit and the Monroeville exit at Route 48. From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily, traffic will be further reduced to one lane in each direction.
The work is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation project that will rehabilitate 4.5 miles of the interstate highway, upgrade nine bridges and replace the concrete median barrier and expansion dams, among other work. The project had been expected to begin last season, but the agency found more substantial deterioration than expected on a bridge over Old William Penn Highway and had to design more extensive work to replace its superstructure.
In addition to long-term lane restrictions, the project will include several weekends where traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction and in 2025 there will be a crossover of traffic for the bridge superstructure replacement in 2025.
Swank Construction Co. is expected to finish the project in fall 2026.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.