Demolition of Saw Mill Run Boulevard bridge scheduled to begin soon, detours announced

PITTSBURGH — The Saw Mill Run Boulevard bridge near Woodruff Street in Pittsburgh will be demolished at the beginning of August.

Demolition work will begin on Thursday, Aug. 1, PennDOT said.

Route 51 will be closed between Crane Avenue and Woodruff Street starting at 9 p.m. Barring any unforeseen issues, the roadway will remain closed around-the-clock continuously through 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26.

Motorists can take the following detours around the closure:

• Posted Car Detours
• Northbound Route 51
• From northbound Route 51, take the ramp to 579 toward Downtown/South Side
• Turn right and continue through the Liberty Tunnel
• Cross the Liberty Bridge and take the ramp to 376 East toward Oakland/Monroeville/Boulevard of the Allies
• Turn left onto the Boulevard of the Allies toward Downtown Pittsburgh
• Turn left onto Stanwix Street
• Take the ramp to 376 West toward the Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport
• From westbound I-376, cross the Fort Pitt Bridge and continue through the Fort Pitt Tunnel
• Take the ramp to 19 South toward Banksville Road (Exit 69A)
• Continue toward Truck 19/51 South toward Uniontown
• Bear left toward 376 East/51 South
• Merge onto Banksville Road
• Take the ramp to Route 19/51 North toward the West End Circle (Exit 69C)
• End detour
• Southbound Route 51
• From southbound Route 19/51, take the ramp to 376 West/19 South toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport
• Bear left toward 19 South toward Banksville Road
• Bear left toward 376 East/51 South
• Merge onto Banksville Road
• Merge onto eastbound I-376 (Parkway West)
• Continue through the Fort Pitt Tunnel and across the Fort Pitt Bridge
• Take the ramp to the Boulevard of the Allies/Liberty Avenue/PPG Arena (Exit 70A)
• Bear right onto the Boulevard of the Allies
• Turn right to Route 19/51 toward the Liberty Bridge
• Cross the Liberty Bridge and continue through the Liberty Tunnel
• Take the ramp to 51 South toward Uniontown
• End detour
• Posted Truck Detours
• Northbound Route 51
• From northbound Route 51, take the ramp to 579 toward Downtown/South Side
• Turn left onto Truck 19 South (West Liberty Avenue) toward Dormont
• Turn right onto Bower Hill Road
• Turn right onto Route 121 (Cochran Road)
• Bear right onto Green Tree Road toward 376/North 121
• Take the ramp to 376 East toward Pittsburgh
• From eastbound I-376, take the ramp to Route 19/51 North toward the West End Circle (Exit 69C)
• End detour
• Southbound Route 51
• From southbound Route 19/51, take the ramp to 376 West/19 South toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport
• Stay right to 376 West toward Carnegie/Airport
• Merge onto westbound I-376 (Parkway West)
• Take the ramp to Route 121 toward Green Tree/Crafton (Exit 67)
• Bear right toward Route 121 South toward Green Tree
• Follow Route 121 (Greentree Road) to Cochran Road
• Turn left onto Cochran Road (Route 121)
• Turn left onto Bower Hill Road
• Turn left onto Truck 19 North (West Liberty Avenue)
• Take the ramp to 51 South toward Uniontown
• End detour

Additionally, in preparation for the bridge demolition work, the following restrictions will occur:

• Single-lane restrictions will occur on Route 51 in both directions between I-376 and the Liberty Tunnel from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Tuesday night, July 30 and Wednesday night, July 31 to allow roadway preparatory work.
• Single-lane restrictions will occur on Route 51 in both directions between Crane Avenue and Woodruff Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31 to allow Duquesne Light to conduct de-energization of power lines.

Bridge demolition work, modular block wall installation, and roadway widening will occur at the Route 51 structure near Woodruff Street in the City of Pittsburgh.

The $3.13 million project is expected to conclude in the fall of 2024.

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