• June 5th, 2026
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The next major traffic impacts related to the I-376 Commercial Street Bridge Replacement project are right around the corner with the full 25-day closure and detour of I-376 Parkway East in both directions beginning July 10, 2026 through August 3, 2026. During the closure, the existing bridge will be demolished and the new bridge structure will be maneuvered into place utilizng Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) techniques designed to keep the required closure timeframe as short as possible.

PennDOT notes that while unforeseen issues may arise, crews are doing their best to mitigate schedule impacts and there are monetary incentives available for completing the work early (and financial disincentives for the contractor if the project extends beyond the 25-day timeline.)

For more details, PennDOT has published a series of Frequently Asked Questions along side a comprehensive set of detour maps, planning documents, and public meeting material archives on the dedicated PennDOT Project page here.

In addition to the full closure of I-376 Parkway East in both directions between the Edgewood/Swissvale interchange (Exit 77) heading inbound/westbound on the far-side of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Squirrel Hill/Homestead interchange (Exit 74) heading outbound/eastbound on the near-side of the tunnel, both Commercial Street/Forward Avenue and Nine Mile Run Trail will close between Nine Mile Run and Frick Park Commercial Street Parking Lots (at the bridge construction site) which will restrict vehicle, pedestrian, and bike traffic from traveling through the work zone beneath the bridge.

PennDOT has shared publicly several recommended vehicle, pedestrian, and bike detour routes to help travelers navigate around the construction zone during the 25-day period.

Posted detours for guiding Local and Interstate travelers will include:

• Local motorists heading inbound toward the Squirrel Hill area can exit I-376 at Edgewood/Swissvale (Exit 77) to utilize S Braddock Ave through Regent Squre to Forbes Ave and Beechwood Blvd.
• Local motorists heading inbound toward the Swissvale area can exit I-376 at Edgewood/Swissvale (Exit 77) to utilize S Braddock Ave and Monongahela Ave to Whipple St.
• Local motorists heading inbound can also exit I-376 at Edgewood/Swissvale (Exit 77) to utilize S Braddock Ave to the Rankin Bridge into Homestead and westbound on E 8th Ave to the Homestead Grays Bridge, Browns Hill Rd, and Parkview Blvd/Summerset Dr to connect with Beechwood Blvd into the Squirrel Hill area; or can choose to stay on Browns Hill to reach Beechwood Blvd and ultimately return to Westbound I-376 Parkway East to proceed further into the city.
• Local and interstate motorists heading inbound can also choose to exit I-376 earlier at Wilkinsburg (Exit 78B) to utilize Penn Ave to Fifth Avenue and travel through Shadyside and Oakland to ultimately return to Westbound I-376 Parkway East to proceed further into the city; or local traffic can connect to adjacent neighborhoods along the route.
• Eastbound travelers can utilize these same detour routes in the opposite direction, with the Interstate Detour accessed primarily by exiting I-376 at Forbes Ave/Oakland (Exit 72A) and following Forbes Avenue to Fifth Ave and Penn Ave to reconnect with I-376 after the work zone; and the Local Detour accessed primarily by existing I-376 at Squirrel Hill/Homestead (Exit 74; just before the closure) and following Beechwood Blvd to Browns Hill Rd over the Homestead Grays Bridge, E 8th Ave over the Rankin Bridge, and north on to S Braddock Ave to reconnect with I-376 after the work zone.

Posted detours for guiding interstate travelers seeking to bypass local traffic by navigating north of the work zone will be directed to Alternate Route 1 which uses I-76 West (PA Turnpike, toll road) to I-79 South. The initial I-76 leg of Alternate Route 1 intersects with Rt 8 and Rt 19, as well. And the I-79 leg of Alternate Route 1 intersects with I-279 Parkway North, Rt 60, and I-376 Parkway East after the work zone.

Alternate Route 2 also utilized I-76 West (PA turnpike, toll road) but exits to Rt 28 after crossing the Allegheny River near Oakmont to stay much closer to the city, connecting multiple area neighborhoods by intersecting with Rt 8, 62nd Street Bridge, 40th Street Bridge, I-279 Parkway North, and I-376 Parkway East after the work zone.

And for motorists seeking to bypass local traffic by navigating south of the work zone, Alternate Route 3 utilizes Rt 48 in Monroeville to Rt 30 in the East McKeesport/Forest Hills area and Rt 148 in the McKeesport area to ultimately reach neighborhoods south of Pittsburgh like West Mifflin where motorists can continue to Rt 885 North or Rt 51 North to reconnect with I-376 Parkway East after the work zone, as well.

Map illustrations available from PennDOT are embedded below for reference, but an interactive map is also available from PennDOT on the project microsite here along with Turn-By-Turn Instructions and download PDF versions.

General questions and inquiries about the project can be directed to PennDOT via email at CommStBridgeProject@pa.gov.

Image credits: Map, PennDOT / Construction photo, CMU