Contractors for Pittsburgh Regional Transit will begin laying foundations this week for 35 new traffic signals that will be used for the University Line, dedicated bus lanes between Downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland.
This week’s work will be at the intersection of Sixth and Centre avenues near the DoubleTree Hotel parking garage. Crews will work 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on one side of the street at a time while two-way traffic is maintained on the other side.
Work will be done at most other sites during daylight hours, but this site requires crews to work on the road, so it will be done at night for safety.
Signals and poles are expected to be installed in the spring.
Meanwhile, water service to the DoubleTree will be disrupted from 10 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday as part of the relocation of utilities for stops along the University Line. The work involves moving underground lines so they aren’t beneath new stations or other elements of the University Line.
The University Line is a $291 million project to get PRT buses out of regular traffic congestion by putting them in dedicated lanes and giving them priority at traffic signals. Work in the Downtown area could continue until early next year.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.