Road crews will make up for last week’s short holiday week with new projects and changes for continuing work this week. Here’s where to avoid driving if you can:
- Penn Avenue Extension – This road in Wilkins and Turtle Creek will close between Aliquippa Street and Route 130 at 9 a.m. Monday through October. Contractor A. Merante has a $463,000 contract with Allegheny County for construction of a retaining wall, pavement and sidewalk reconstruction, utility work and guide rail replacement near Aliquippa Street. Residents who live along the road, which carries an average of 3,938 vehicles a day, will have access to their homes. Detours will be posted.
- Route 8 – The ramp from southbound Route 28 to northbound Route 8 will close at 6 a.m. Monday through July 31 for ramp reconstruction work. Detours will be posted. The work is part of the $9.1 million project to improve Route 8 between Baker Street near the 62nd Street Bridge and Saxonburg Boulevard in Shaler.
- Parkway East 1 – Restrictions for construction of a retaining wall outside the outbound Squirrel Hill Tunnel will be from 3 a.m. to 2 p.m. this week with the right lane and shoulder closed. The Beechwood Boulevard outbound ramp also will be closed. Detours will be posted. The work is part of the $95.1 million project to replace the Commercial Street Bridge.
- Parkway East 2 – Crews will be installing a high-friction surface in both directions beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday between Oakland and Squirrel Hill. The work, which will cause single- and double-lane restrictions, will occur from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. to noon on weekends through late July. Inbound work will occur between the Squirrel Hill interchange and the Oakland exit, and outbound work will occur between the Forbes Avenue exit and the Squirrel Hill interchange. The treatment improves safety for motorists by eliminating areas where the road becomes smooth from drivers braking often, making it harder for tires to grip the road.
- Highland Park Bridge – Ramps between the bridge and Washington Boulevard on the Pittsburgh side of the bridge will be milled and paved from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Wednesday. On Monday, the ramp from the bridge to northbound Route 8 will be closed for work and the ramp from the bridge to southbound Route 8 will be closed on Tuesday. On Wednesday, both ramps will be closed. Detours will be posted.
- Boyce Road – The road in Robinson will have daytime and overnight single-lane restrictions Monday through Thursday. The work between Ridge Road and Campbells Run Road will include painting, power washing and sealing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The work is part of the $12.6 million Parkway West improvement project between the Campbells Run Road interchange and Interstate 79.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.