Pittsburgh Daily Local Headlines: Parkway East lane limits, North Side chase, parade marshal
Pittsburgh, PA – March 2, 2026 – Lane limits start on Parkway East tonight, parade grand marshal named, and a North Side chase ends with a gun arrest.
Top story: Parkway East overnight lane restrictions start tonight
Drivers on I-376 (the Parkway East) should plan for overnight lane restrictions beginning Monday night as work ramps up on a median barrier reconstruction project. State transportation officials say shifting traffic patterns and single-lane restrictions are expected between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale interchange, with work scheduled weather permitting.
- Overnight restrictions: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Thursday nights, March 2–5
- Purpose: line removal, repainting, and temporary barrier installation ahead of longer-running lane shifts through mid-April
If you commute that stretch, tonight is a good time to double-check alternate routes and leave a little extra cushion.
Public safety: Chase ends on the North Side; police report a modified gun
Police say a call about a disturbance in McKees Rocks late Friday escalated into a vehicle chase that crossed into Pittsburgh and ended with a crash on Brighton Road. Investigators say the driver ran after the crash but was caught after a foot pursuit.
During a search of the vehicle, police allege they recovered a .40-caliber Glock pistol that had been illegally modified to fire fully automatically. Authorities have not released full charging details in the initial report, but the incident is expected to be reviewed by prosecutors.
Civic life: St. Patrick’s Day Parade names its 2026 grand marshal
Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee announced Patrick J. Byrne as the 2026 grand marshal ahead of this year’s downtown parade on Saturday, March 14. Organizers say the honor recognizes a long record of public service and local roots, including growing up in the city and longstanding ties to Irish heritage events.
With crowds typically filling Downtown for the parade, expect heavier-than-usual traffic and packed sidewalks along the route as the date approaches.
Weather watch: March begins with chill, then a risk of slick travel
Forecasters say meteorological spring started with sunshine but colder air. Monday should stay dry with highs near 40, followed by a warmer, wetter pattern. For Tuesday morning’s commute, temperatures near the freezing mark could bring a brief window of light freezing rain before changing to rain later in the day.
Sources
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/news-and-media/newsroom/district-11/2026/i-376-parkway-east-overnight-lane-restrictions-begin-monday
https://www.wtae.com/article/woman-arrested-after-chase-through-mckees-rocks-ends-on-pittsburghs-north-side/70544568
https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/2026-pittsburgh-st-patricks-day-parade-grand-marshal-announced/QGKJN2C52JGUPK4BPVJFJ52QVY/
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/meteorological-spring-2026-pittsburgh-weather-forecast/
