Work begins on Penn Avenue for $9M group resurfacing project

PITTSBURGH — Bakery Square and the East Liberty shopping areas are about to seem even busier than usual, now that PennDOT crews are working on Penn Avenue. It’s all part of a multi-million dollar project that will leave at least one lane closed during weekday daylight hours.

The stretch of Penn Avenue between Fifth and Centre Avenues will be resurfaced in the coming months. As a result, daylight lane restrictions are in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“It can be very stuffy around work hours, like getting to and from work and to and from daycare,” said Elisabeth Heffner, who lives in East Liberty. “I imagine if you’re going up and down Penn Avenue, you’ll have to accommodate for that.”

The work is part of a $9 million group resurfacing project involving several area roads in the city and around it, including Penn Hills and Wilkinsburg.

“Having to deal with that for the next six months is definitely going to be a pain,” said Grace Davis, who shops in East Liberty.

PennDOT says at least one lane in each direction of Penn Avenue will be maintained, as crews replace inlets and valve boxes. Some people said they’re already mentally preparing for the months ahead.

“I think it’s going to be a major inconvenience. I mean, the traffic in this area is already an issue at all times of the day, it feels like,” Davis said.

Others are hoping the newly paved roads will be worth the headache in the end.

“We use Penn Avenue every day almost, so that’ll definitely help us get around a little easier,” Heffner said.

PennDOT said work should be done sometime in August.

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