Massive Pittsburgh Bridge Project To Detour 100,000 Vehicles Daily

PITTSBURGH, PA — One of the region's most heavily traveled bridges and a critical connection between Pittsburgh and its eastern suburbs needs to be demolished, and project is expected to cause major traffic woes.

The deteriorating Parkway East Commercial Street Bridge carrying more than 100,000 vehicles a day over Commercial Street and Frick Park will be replaced in a $95 million project that will require the parkway's complete closure for nearly a month.

Did that garner your interest? If so, you can attend PennDOT's virtual public meeting on the project on Aug. 14 from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

The replacement effort actually began last month, when the inbound Wilkinsburg exit ramp was closed so it can be lowered to accommodate trucks. The ramp will be the main detour route when the bridge is closed in July 2026.

Here's how the project will work: the new steel span will be constructed next to the current crumbling concrete one. The current bridge will be demolished and its remains removed from Commercial Street and Frick Park, then the new bridge will be laterally slid onto the parkway's existing alignment.

While the complete closure occurs in 2026, the traffic headaches will begin next year. Expect several overnight full closures and detours of eastbound parkway traffic and a full weekend parkway closure in each direction.