• May 4th, 2026
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New traffic patterns in place this week will remain in place through end of June 2026 with three traffic lanes shifted to right on Fifth Avenue between Bellefield & Craft in Oakland, and traffic down to one lane approaching Craft Ave toward Kirkpatrick in Uptown.

Motorists traveling through Oakland and Uptown will see new traffic patterns on Fifth Avenue this week as construction continues on Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s University Line project. The updated traffic configuration will remain in place through the end of June as crews ultimately shift work zones and begin the next phase of roadway and sidewalk reconstruction.

Throughout the construction corridor, access to intersections and local businesses will be maintained. Parking will remain restricted along both sides of Fifth Avenue within work zones. Pedestrian access will continue to be provided through temporary walkways and ADA-accessible ramps.

Oakland impacts: Current construction on Fifth Avenue between Bellefield Avenue and Craft Avenue will wrap up on May 5 at which point traffic will be shifted to the right—with three lanes remaining open, but the two leftmost lanes closed to traffic (including the former counter-flow lane which has recently been open for vehicle use). The lane shift will allow crews complete work rebuilding roadway surface and sidewalks in preparation for the future two-way bike lane to be installed in the corridor.

Uptown impacts: As Fifth Avenue reaches Craft Avenue, traffic will be reduced to a single through lane. Approaching Kirkpatrick Street and the Birmingham Bridge, a second lane designated only for turns on to the Birmingham Bridge will be in place. At the same time, construction in this area will move to the south side of the street as crews begin sidewalk and roadway reconstruction in that section.

Further along Fifth Avenue from Kirkpatrick Street to Washington Place, traffic has already been reduced to a single lane in some areas. This restriction will remain in place as crews complete utility work, sidewalk installation, and accessibility upgrades in the area—with final milling and paving in this section currently scheduled for June 2026.

Transit impacts: Beginning May 5, several bus stops along Fifth Avenue will be temporarily impacted including at Seneca Street, Gist Street, and Van Braam Street which will be out of service; and stops at Kirkpatrick Street, Wyandotte Street, Dinwiddie Street, and Pride Street which will be relocated to the opposite side of the intersection with Fifth Avenue.

Schedule: Work hours are scheduled for 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with overnight milling and paving operations taking place between 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Weekend work may occur as needed, and all construction activities are weather dependent.

About the project: According to Pittsburgh Regional Transit, the University Line will deliver a modernized transit corridor featuring dedicated bus lanes on Fifth Avenue and Forbes Avenue—improving reliability and travel times for riders.

The project also includes a new two-way bike lane on Fifth Avenue, upgraded sidewalks and ADA-complaint curb ramps, improved traffic signals, and enhanced pedestrian safety features. These improvements are part of Phase Two of the University Line project, which will strengthen connections between Downtown, Uptown, and Oakland while improving the overall travel experience.  For more details and weekly updates, visit rideprt.org/brt or check out the PRT News Hub.