Parkway East Commuters Will Have Signs of the Times Beginning Monday

On Monday, motorists on the Parkway East (I-376) will have a new feature available to help them plan their daily commutes. Beginning at 6 a.m., travel times will be posted on overhead message boards.

“By having this real-time information displayed on message boards, motorists will be better able to predict how much time it might take to reach their destinations, and, during times of heavy traffic, possibly consider alternate routes,” PennDOT District 11 Executive Dan Cessna said.

Using sensors mounted on traffic camera poles to measure average vehicle speeds, the travel time system calculates travel times from various locations between Monroeville and downtown Pittsburgh. Within the next few months, travel times will also be displayed on overhead message boards on the Parkway North (I-279) and Parkway West (I-376). The system will continue to be expanded to other area roadways as well.

This week, nighttime work will continue on bridge transitions along the Parkway East, weather permitting, from Monday through Thursday, according to PennDOT District 11 Press Officer Jim Struzzi. Crews will be replacing pavement transitions at several bridge locations between the Bates Street/Oakland Exit 73 and Edgewood Swissvale Exit 77 interchanges.

Lane closures will be necessary to perform the improvements. The following restrictions will occur this week:

• Monday, May 9: Bates Street/Oakland Exit 73 outbound (eastbound)— Two-lane traffic from 11 p.m. to midnight on Monday, single-lane traffic from midnight to 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Inbound (westbound)—Two-lane traffic from 7-11 p.m., single-lane traffic from 11 p.m. on Monday to 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Edgewood Swissvale Exit 77 inbound—Single-lane traffic from the interchange through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel from 8 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday.

• Tuesday, May 10: Bates Street/Oakland Exit 73 outbound (eastbound)— Single-lane traffic from midnight to 6 a.m. on Wednesday. Inbound—Two-lane traffic from 7-11 p.m Tuesday. Single-lane traffic from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Wednesday. Edgewood Swissvale Exit 77 inbound—Single-lane traffic from the interchange through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday. Brady Street Bridge (under Birmingham Bridge)— Single-lane traffic from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday.

• Wednesday, May 11: Bates Street/Oakland Exit 73 outbound—Single-lane traffic from midnight to 6 a.m. on Thursday. Inbound—Two-lane traffic from 7-11 p.m. Wednesday. Single-lane traffic from 11 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. on Thursday. Brady Street Bridge (under Birmingham Bridge)—Single-lane traffic from 8 p.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. on Thursday.

• Thursday, May 12: Bates Street/Oakland Exit 73 outbound—Single-lane traffic from midnight to 6 a.m. on Friday. Single-lane traffic from midnight to 6 a.m. on Friday. Inbound—Two-lane traffic from 7-11 p.m. Thursday. Single-lane traffic from 11 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. on Friday. Brady Street Bridge (under Birmingham Bridge)—Single-lane traffic from 8 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. on Friday.

The $3.2 million project includes repairing, rehabilitating and overlaying pavement transitions at various bridge locations within the project area. The prime contractor is the Golden Triangle Construction Company, Inc. of Imperial, PA. Overall work will be completed in early summer 2011.

Crews also will conduct cleaning operations in the Squirrel Hill Tunnel on the Parkway East (I-376) Monday though Wednesday, May 9-11, weather permitting. Single lane restrictions will occur each night according to the following schedule:

• Monday, May 9: Outbound single-lane traffic from 11 p.m. Monday (restrictions implemented after traffic from Pirates game subsides) through 5 a.m. Tuesday.
• Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10-11: Inbound single-lane traffic 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. both nights.