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May 31, 2007

Bridge project forces more lane closings

A new lane closure is in place on the Boulevard of the Allies as contractors begin work on a new retaining wall from Fifth Avenue onto the boulevard as part of a $29 million, two-year project that will replace the Boulevard of the Allies bridge over Forbes Avenue.

The project also includes the reconfiguration of ramps north and south of the bridge and eliminates the contra-flow traffic lane on Forbes Avenue.

Approximately 2,500 feet of the boulevard’s right lane north (toward Craft Avenue) is closed from the point of the existing left lane closure that was put in place earlier this spring.

The change shifts traffic headed Downtown from the left lane to the right lane in the work zone. The closure is expected to remain through August, according to an update from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Although the bridge itself is not scheduled for replacement until 2008, additional lane closings are imminent.

An additional lane closing, which PennDOT announced would begin June 11, has been postponed until July to ease the pain for drivers impacted by work on the outbound lanes of the Parkway East. The July lane closing will cut Forbes Avenue traffic between the Parkway East ramp and the intersection of McDevitt Place to one lane. Two right lanes are expected to close and traffic on Forbes Avenue will be required to stop at the merge point with traffic coming from the Parkway East off ramp. The restrictions will continue for approximately five weeks to allow contractors to build new drainage facilities on Forbes Avenue and Ophelia Street.

An existing left lane closure on Forbes Avenue from Moultrie Street to the Parkway East off-ramp and a left inbound (northbound) lane closure on Route 885 in the area of the existing Boulevard of the Allies Bridge will continue.

Detailed information and updates on the project are available online at www.otma-pgh.org.


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