Work will begin Monday on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s project to replace the Commercial Street Bridge on the Parkway East.
But the first step doesn’t involve the bridge itself.
Instead, crews will close the inbound Wilkinsburg exit ramp so they can lower the roadway, which will be a major detour route when the highway is closed for five weeks in 2026 while the new bridge is moved into place. Right now, there is not enough clearance on the ramp for tall trucks to pass under the highway, so Joseph B. Fay Co. will make more space so it can be a safe alternative.
That work is expected to take about 36 days.
Other work scheduled for this year includes constructing an access road from the right side of the highway down the hill to Commercial Street below. In August, crews will clear trees and brush in Frick Park so they can temporarily relocate the street and the trail next to it.
The parking lot for Nine Mile Run will remain open.
Fay submitted the low bid of $95 million for the complicated project that will involve building the new bridge beside the old one so that more than 100,000 vehicles a day can continue using the old one. In July 2026, the highway will close for 25 days while crews demolish the old bridge, clean up the debris and slide the new bridge into place.
Fay will hire a subcontractor that specializes in developing computerized protocols for using hydraulic jacks to move the new 861-foot bridge into place and attach it to piers at each end. Fay’s contract includes bonuses for finishing work early and penalties if it misses deadlines along the way.
PennDOT scheduled the highway closure for July because typically that is the month the highway has the least amount of traffic.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.