• April 28th, 2016
• 1 Comment

Liberty Bridge Deck Replacement Phase 1A begins Monday
Inbound Bridge and Tunnel Closure this Weekend for Preparatory Work

PennDOT District 11 is announcing deck replacement work on the Liberty Bridge (Route 3069) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will begin Monday, April 25 at 5 a.m (weather permitting).

“This launches the major work to upgrade the Liberty Bridge we have been planning for many years,” said District Executive Dan Cessna. “We appreciate everyone’s patience during this multiple phase effort.”

The deck will be replaced one lane at a time through four separate work phases over the course of approximately 160 consecutive days.  The first phase (1A) begins with the far right inbound (northbound) lane closure and includes the closure of the inbound (northbound) Liberty Bridge ramp to the Boulevard of the Allies.  This lane closure will continue for approximately 45 days.

During each phase of construction, the traffic configuration will be changed three times each weekday (see above).  Three lanes of traffic will be maintained during peak travel times and two lanes will be maintained overnight.  The traffic patterns will occur according to the following schedule: 

• Two inbound (northbound) lanes and one outbound (southbound) lane will be maintained from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekday.
• Two outbound (southbound) lanes and one inbound (northbound) lane will be maintained from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. each weekday.
• A single-lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. each weeknight.

To allow each configuration to occur, a short traffic stoppage of 15 minutes or less will be implemented for each traffic switch. Crews will shift channelizers, cover signs and change message boards.

Ramp reconstruction work will occur in 2016 beginning with the inbound (northbound) Liberty Bridge ramp to the Boulevard of the Allies.  The ramp will close for approximately 52 days and traffic will be detoured. 

Posted Ramp Detour

• Continue inbound (northbound) on the Liberty Bridge past the closed ramp.
• Continue onto the Crosstown Boulevard toward 6th Avenue/Forbes Avenue exit.
• Exit Crosstown Boulevard to 6th Avenue.
• Follow 6th Avenue to Grant Street.
• Turn right onto Grant Street.
• Turn right onto 7th Avenue.
• Exit 7th Avenue to I-579 South/I-376 East toward Monroeville/Liberty Bridge.
• Keep right and take ramp to I-376 East toward Oakland/Monroeville.
• Follow ramp onto Boulevard of the Allies.
• End detour

Additional information will be provided on each phase of construction prior to the implementation of the new traffic pattern.

Additional restrictions include: 

• McCardle Roadway will be reduced to a single-lane approaching the intersection of the bridge in both directions.  All current traffic movements will be available during bridge deck replacement.
• The ramp from the Boulevard of the Allies to the outbound (southbound) Liberty Bridge has been reduced to a single-lane.  Additionally, ramp traffic will be placed in a stop condition at the bridge.  The ramp will close to traffic in later phases of the project.
• Southbound I-579 traffic will be placed into a stop condition approaching the ramp from the Boulevard of the Allies.  Traffic from southbound I-579 will merge into a single-lane with the Boulevard of the Allies ramp as it approaches the southbound (outbound) Liberty Bridge.
• The speed limit on the bridge will be reduced to 30 MPH.
• The inbound (northbound) right lane through the Liberty Tunnel will be required to turn right onto McCardle Roadway from 2 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays.
• Weekend configurations will depend on work activities and event schedules.  When work is completed for the weekend, it is anticipated that the traffic configuration will consist of two inbound lanes and one outbound lane.  When major events at the Consol Energy Center occur on the weekend, it is anticipated that two lanes will be maintained outbound and one lane inbound until two hours after the event.
• Pedestrian access to the bridge is prohibited during deck replacement work. Pedestrian traffic will be detoured.

Posted Pedestrian Detour
Southbound

• From the closed stairwell at Ross Street and Second Avenue, cross Ross Street toward Grant Street
• Take Grant Street south toward Fort Pitt Boulevard
• Cross I-376 off-ramp and enter shared use pedestrian/bicycle Great Allegheny Passage
• Cross the Smithfield Street Bridge
• Turn left onto East Carson Street
• Cross East Carson Street to Arlington Avenue
• U-turn at the intersection of Arlington Avenue and PJ McCardle Roadway, crossing Arlington Avenue at the farthest approach, east of the McCardle Roadway
• Follow Arlington Avenue back to the Liberty Bridge stairwell
• End detour

Northbound

• Same detour in opposite direction

The northbound (inbound) Liberty Tunnel and Liberty Bridge will close to traffic for preparatory work from at 8 p.m. Friday, April 22 continuously through 5 a.m. Monday, April 25. 

 A single-lane of traffic will be maintained in the southbound (outbound) direction during the prep work.  Crews will be eradicating and painting lines, installing barrier, sign and message board installation, light pole removal and shifting the overhead lane control system.  All northbound traffic will be detoured at the south portal of the Liberty Tunnel.

Posted Detour
Northbound

• Take Route 51 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard) northbound
• Take the exit to I-376 West/US 19 South toward Carnegie/Airport/West End
• Take Exit 69A toward US 19 South/Banksville Road
• Keep left and loop back to I-376 eastbound toward Fort Pitt Tunnel 
• Follow eastbound I-376 through Fort Pitt Tunnel and across the Fort Pitt Bridge
• For access to I-279 destinations follow I-279 signage, all other destinations take exit toward I-376 East/Monroeville
• Take the left exit 71A to Grant Street
• Turn left onto Grant Street
• End detour

The $80.08 million Liberty Bridge Rehabilitation Project includes deck replacement and ramp reconstruction, structural steel repairs, painting of the entire structure, concrete repairs, signage improvements and installation of a new alternating overhead lane control system.  The project will continue into 2018.  Restrictions in 2017 include five weekend and approximately 26 overnight closures of the bridge, an 80 day closure of the Boulevard of the Allies in the bridge area and single-lane restrictions on Second Avenue.

The Joseph B. Fay Company is the prime contractor.

Project information including driving simulations for each traffic configuration and detour route maps, can be found at www.penndot.gov/libertybridge.

Motorists are advised to use caution, slow down and be prepared for changing traffic patterns when traveling through the area. Work zone safety is everyone's responsibility. 

To access PennDOT Traffic Cameras within the corridor, visit http://www.otma-pgh.org/resources/links. 

Log onto 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major roadways before traveling.

To learn more about Commuting Alternatives, go to www.oaklandsmartcommute.org.