Pittsburgh Parkway East reopens early as local closures remain

Parkway East reopened through the Commercial Street Bridge work zone on July 27, one week earlier than originally scheduled. The I-376 segment had been closed for 17 days while crews completed the interstate portion of the bridge replacement.

The reopened section runs between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale interchange. PennDOT says roughly 100,000 vehicles travel on I-376 over Commercial Street each day, making the early reopening significant for Pittsburgh-area commuters and other travelers who rely on the corridor.

What reopened

The reopening covers the Parkway East portion of the Commercial Street Bridge replacement. PennDOT’s original plan called for I-376 to remain closed from July 10 through August 3, but the interstate reopened after 17 days.

To accelerate the work, crews demolished the old bridge and moved the replacement structure laterally into place. That construction sequence allowed the main interstate work to be completed during the planned closure.

What remains closed

The early reopening does not mean the entire project area is back to normal. Commercial Street and the Nine Mile Run Trail are expected to remain closed through early August under the current project schedule.

Those restrictions still affect people using local streets and the trail near the bridge, even though Parkway East traffic has resumed. Access conditions may change as crews move into the next stages of work, so residents and commuters should check PennDOT’s project updates before traveling near Commercial Street or the trail.

The broader project continues

The bridge replacement is part of a $95 million PennDOT project between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale interchange. PennDOT anticipates that the broader project will continue through summer 2027, meaning the early interstate reopening reduces the largest disruption but does not mark the end of construction.

For Pittsburgh-area travelers, the immediate change is that traffic has resumed on Parkway East through the bridge area. Local access restrictions remain, however, and additional construction activity is expected for months. PennDOT’s project information will provide the latest updates on closures, access and upcoming work phases.

Sources

• Governor of Pennsylvania reopening announcement
• CBS Pittsburgh reopening report