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Liberty Bridge closed for repairs related to 2016 fire

PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Pittsburgh bridge is closed over the weekend to repair damage caused by a construction fire last year.

Traffic on the Liberty Bridge closed in both directions at 3 p.m. Saturday and will remain closed until 11 a.m. Sunday.

The northbound side of the Liberty Tunnel is also closed. All traffic will be detoured.

Crews will also repair an expansion joint that crosses the full width of the bridge.

RELATED: 

State transportation officials and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration have said hot residue from a blowtorch ignited plastic piping and a construction tarp on Sept. 2.

A 30-foot chord designed to hold 2.4 million pounds of pressure buckled during the blaze. Its failure could've caused the bridge to collapse.

POSTED DETOURS

Northbound (Inbound)

Take Route 51 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard) northbound

Take the exit to I-376 West/US 19 South toward Carnegie/Airport/West End

Take Exit 69A toward US 19 South/Banksville Road

Keep left and loop back to I-376 eastbound toward Fort Pitt Tunnel

Follow eastbound I-376 through Fort Pitt Tunnel and across the Fort Pitt Bridge

For access to I-279 destinations follow I-279 signage, all other destinations take exit toward I-376 East/Monroeville

Take the left exit 71A to Grant Street

Turn left onto Grant Street

End detour

Southbound (Outbound) From Downtown Pittsburgh

Take Grant Street to I-376

Take the ramp to West I-376 toward Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport

Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road

Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376

Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown

Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel

End detour

Southbound (Outbound) From Westbound Route 885 (Boulevard of the Allies)

From the Boulevard of the Allies take the ramp to North I-579 to I-279 Veterans Bridge Exit

Take the Convention Center/7th Avenue Exit

Turn right onto Grant Street

Turn left onto 11th Street

Continue straight onto the 10th Street Bypass

Take the I-376 West Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport Exit

Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road

Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376

Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown

Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel

End detour

Southbound (Outbound) From Route 380 (Bigelow Boulevard)

From PA 380, take the Consol Center/6th Avenue Exit

Take the 6th Avenue Exit

Turn right onto Grant Street

Turn left onto 11th Street

Continue straight onto the 10th Street Bypass

Take the I-376 West Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport Exit

Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road

Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376

Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown

Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel

End detour

Southbound (Outbound) From I-279 Parkway North

From southbound I-279, take the I-279 South Fort Pitt Bridge Exit

Take the South I-279/To I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport Exit

Take the West I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge Exit

Follow I-376 westbound across the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

Take Exit 69A toward South 19 Banksville Road

Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376

Take Exit 69B toward South Truck US 19/Route 51 Uniontown

Merge onto southbound Route 51 and follow back to the Liberty Tunnel

End detour

 
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