Date: July 11th, 2012

This message is being sent to you by the Regent Square Civic Association, a not-for-profit 501(c)(4), all-volunteer community organization serving Regent Square's diverse residential and business community.

Below is a message from PennDOT with regards to the tunnel closure.

First Westbound Squirrel Hill Tunnel Weekend Closure July 27-30

Pittsburgh - PennDOT District 11 is reminding motorists the first of eight possible weekend closures of the westbound (inbound) Squirrel Hill Tunnel on the Parkway East (I-376) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur July 27-30.
In addition to other rehabilitation work and multiple improvement activities, crews will begin removing the drop-ceiling and concrete patching the roadway inside the westbound tunnel. When overall work is completed, vertical clearance in the westbound tunnel will increase by two feet from 13 feet, 6 inches to 15 feet, 6 inches. Preservation and rehabilitation work will also occur during the first weekend closure on the bridge that carries westbound I-376 over Commercial Street.
The westbound closure will occur from 9 p.m. on Friday through 5 a.m. on Monday. Signs will be posted to guide motorists. The posted detour will require westbound traffic to form a single lane exiting at the Edgewood Swissvale interchange (Exit 77). The outbound (eastbound) tunnel will remain open, although short-term traffic stoppages may occur for equipment access and material removal.
PennDOT reminds motorists to use all open lanes to the merge point. Please be courteous to other motorists and allow them to merge. The effectiveness of traffic flow entering the detour route is highly dependent on driver behavior. Zipper! Using all lanes and allowing a consistent, courteous merge will reduce congestion and delay and help traffic move off the Parkway East through the detour.
To minimize impacts on businesses, different detours will be used during day and night hours (see attached maps). PennDOT has made improvements at key intersections and police will be posted to keep traffic moving on the posted detours.
Daylight detour
• Exit at Edgewood Swissvale (Exit 77)
• Make right onto South Braddock Avenue
• Left onto Forbes Avenue
• Left onto Beechwood Boulevard
• Right onto Forward Avenue
• Left onto Murray Avenue
• Access ramp to westbound I-376
Night detour
• Exit at Edgewood Swissvale (Exit 77)
• Make right onto South Braddock Avenue
• Left onto Forbes Avenue
• Left onto Murray Avenue
• Bear right on Murray Avenue
• Access ramp to westbound I-376
Significant delays should be expected. Please allow extra time when traveling through the area.

PennDOT is also providing motorists the following schedule for the eight westbound weekend (9 p.m. Fridays to 5 a.m. Mondays) Squirrel Hill Tunnel closures through early 2013. Please note this schedule is tentative and subject to change. Additional press releases will be issued prior to each closure occurring.

• July 27-30, 2012
• Aug. 3-6, 2012
• Oct. 19-22, 2012
• Nov. 2-5, 2012
• March 15-18, 2013
• April 12-15, 2013
• April 27-29, 2013
• May 17-20, 2013

The $49.5 million project to rehabilitate the Squirrel Hill Tunnel includes updating electrical, lighting, air control and ventilation systems, structural repairs to the walls and arched ceiling, tile repairs, installation of a water line and other improvements. To minimize impacts on the traveling public, rehabilitation work on the bridge that carries the Parkway East over Commercial Street will be performed as part of the tunnel project. Expansion dam on ramps at the Edgewood Swissvale interchange (Exit 77) will also be replaced.

PennDOT advises motorists to use caution, slow down, and expect changing traffic patterns when traveling through the area. Visit 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major roadways before traveling.