​

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the I-579 “Cap” Urban Connector project in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will resume operations Tuesday, April 28 weather permitting.

The $29.34 million project will consist of the construction of a structure spanning I-579 to link downtown Pittsburgh and the Hill District. In part, the Cap project will create a new three-acre greenspace which will include pedestrian pathways, bicycle routes, rain gardens for stormwater management, and design elements from neighborhood artists. Additional construction activities include retrofitting existing retaining walls and bridges to accommodate the new structure, roadway reconstruction, drainage improvements, traffic signals, highway lighting, ITS, and landscaping. For additional details on the project including information on sustainability, funding, and public input please visit http://www.pgh-sea.com/LHR-i579cap.htm.

Overnight lane and shoulder restrictions will resume from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. weeknights beginning Tuesday night between the Bedford Avenue and Webster Avenue bridges starting in the northbound direction. Restrictions will occur in both directions for foundation work but not simultaneously. A weekly schedule will be provided.

As a reminder, the following ramps are closed long-term:

• Northbound I-579 ramp to 7th Avenue

• Bedford Avenue ramp to southbound I-579

• 7th Avenue ramp to southbound I-579

Posted Detours

Northbound I-579 to 7th Avenue

• From northbound I-579, take the PPG Arena/Centre Avenue off-ramp

• Turn right onto Washington Place

• Turn right onto Fifth Avenue

• Turn right onto 6th Avenue

• Turn right onto Grant Street

• Follow Grant Street back to 7th Avenue

• End detour

Bedford Avenue Ramp to Southbound I-579 (To Boulevard of the Allies/Eastbound I-376 - Cars)

• From Bedford Avenue, take the ramp to 7th Avenue/Fort Pitt Bridge

• Turn left onto Grant Street

• Continue south on Grant Street

• Take the ramp East I-376 toward Monroeville

• End detour

Bedford Avenue Ramp to Southbound I-579 (To Boulevard of the Allies/Eastbound I-376 - Trucks)

• From Bedford Avenue, turn left onto Crawford Street

• Turn right onto Centre Avenue

• Turn right onto 6th Avenue

• Turn left onto Wood Street

• Turn left onto the Boulevard of the Allies

• Take the ramp to East 376 toward Monroeville

• End detour

Bedford Avenue Ramp to Southbound I-579 (To Liberty Bridge - Cars)

• From Bedford Avenue, take the ramp to 7th Avenue/Fort Pitt Bridge

• Turn left onto Grant Street

• Turn left onto 6th Avenue

• 6th Avenue becomes the Crosstown Boulevard

• Follow Crosstown Boulevard to the Liberty Bridge

• End detour

Bedford Avenue Ramp to Southbound I-579 (To Liberty Bridge - Trucks)

• From Bedford Avenue, turn left onto Crawford Street

• Turn right onto Centre Avenue

• Turn left onto 6th Avenue

• 6th Avenue becomes the Crosstown Boulevard

• Follow Crosstown Boulevard to the Liberty Bridge

• End detour

7th Avenue Ramp to Southbound I-579 (To Boulevard of the Allies/Eastbound I-376 – Cars)

• From 7th Avenue, take Grant Street southbound

• Continue southbound on Grant Street

• Take the ramp to East I-376 toward Monroeville

• End detour

7th Avenue Ramp to Southbound I-579 (To Boulevard of the Allies/Eastbound I-376 – Trucks)

• From 7th Avenue, take Grant Street southbound

• Turn right onto 6th Avenue

• Turn left onto Wood Street

• Turn left onto the Boulevard of the Allies

• Take the ramp to East 376 toward Monroeville

• End detour

7th Avenue Ramp to Southbound I-579 (To Liberty Bridge)

• From 7th Avenue, take Grant Street southbound

• Turn left onto 6th Avenue

• 6th Avenue becomes the Crosstown Boulevard

• Follow Crosstown Boulevard to the Liberty Bridge

• End detour

The Joseph B. Fay Company is the prime contractor.

Normal highway and bridge construction projects in Pennsylvania remain paused as part of the commonwealth’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This project is part of critical work that continues statewide addressing safety needs and work needed to eliminate roadway restrictions that could impede the ability for the movement of life sustaining goods and services. 

To help keep motorists informed as work progresses, PennDOT has created an email distribution list for I-579 Crosstown Boulevard traffic advisories and construction updates. Enroll by sending email addresses to ymanyisha@pa.gov. Please write “Subscribe – I-579 Cap Project” in the subject line.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 950 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

MEDIA CONTACT: Steve Cowan, 412-429-5010

# # #