How Do Motorists Find Out More About The Detours? Information about the detours will be readily available in many forms as construction details are final- Project Contacts ized. In addition to the usual ways PennDOT alerts the public of upcoming detours, including press December 2007 releases and public meetings, other sources will be available. Information will be posted on the OTMA Project Newsletter Mavis Rainey PennDOT web-site, including fliers and images that can be easily downloaded. The Boulevard Executive Director Additionally, the Oakland Transportation Management Association (OTMA), a community outreach partner, will include project updates, community meeting notices, and project literature that will be PHONE: (412) 687-4505 available on their website: www.otma-pgh.org/project_sr885/default.aspx or by calling SR 0885 Section A03 and SR 2108 Sections A04 &A05 (412) 687-4505. Boulevard of the Allies over Forbes Avenue Bridge Replacement Look for more information online and in the news as the construction proceeds. PennDOT District 11-0 Official information and links can be found on PennDOT’s website at: Status of Project/Detour Information Brad Miller, PE www.dot.state.pa.us/district11 Summary bridge over Forbes Avenue traffic signs and posted con- 45 Thoms Run Rd and the new South Ramp. struction speed limits. Bridgeville, PA 15017 The 2007 construction sea- Project Timeline City of son wraps up with the big- The City will close access Detailed Traffic Phase Time Period Work to Be Performed Closures / Detours Pittsburgh gest change being the addi- from Forbes Avenue to PHONE: (412) 429-5062 Restrictions Ophelia and Lawn Streets tion of the new North Ramp FAX: (412) 429-5050 2 Winter to Fall Demolition of existing North Ramp, Full detours in effect for Boulevard (SR 2108) that will provide during the 2008 construction 2008 Boulevard Bridge and South traffic (See Map Insert) FORBES AVENUE access to the Boulevard of season. Ramp New North Ramp open for use con- Oakland Task Force the Allies (SR 0885) Restrictions to Forbes Ave- Construction of new South Ramp necting Fifth Avenue and Boule- Beginning, tentatively, April Construction of new retaining walls vard to Downtown Northbound directly from nue in 2008 will be similar to Construction of new Boulevard Left lane closures on Forbes from Fifth Avenue. No longer will those encountered during 28, 2008, Forbes Avenue will Bridge and roadway Moultrie Street to Craft Avenue traffic leaving Oakland have 2007. During the beginning be restricted to a single lane Forbes Avenue counterflow lane to use the counterflow lane of the construction season, of traffic from the Parkway removed and Forbes Avenue on Forbes Avenue to access a single lane restriction will East (I-376) Ramp merge open to one-way traffic only the Boulevard of the Allies. be in place in the left lane with Forbes Avenue to 3 Spring 2009 Landscaping and irrigation installa- Daily traffic restrictions during non- The new ramp is open prior starting under the Birming- McDevitt Place. Traffic on tion peak hours to the closure of the Boule- ham Bridge and will continue Forbes Avenue will be Asphalt paving and pavement vard of the Allies to allow to McDevitt Place. The exist- brought to a stop condition, marking operations PENNDOT motorists to get accustomed ing counterflow lane from similar to the pattern seen this construction season, and On the Web at: to the new pattern. Craft Avenue to the Boule- Work Completed vard of the Allies will be the Parkway Ramp traffic will Phase Time Period Work Included The new ramp was opened closed. As work progresses, be allowed to proceed with- www.dot.state.pa.us ahead of schedule, and we different restrictions will take out stopping. 1 2007 Resurfaced McDevitt Street are ready to close the Boule- place in various lanes. Be Drainage work on Forbes Avenue, Boulevard, and Fifth Avenue vard of the Allies and begin aware of changing traffic pat- Continued on Page 3 Construction of retaining wall between Fifth Avenue and Boulevard construction of the new terns and pay attention to Construction of new North Ramp connecting Fifth Avenue to Boulevard New sidewalk along Fifth Avenue and Forbes Avenue Aerial View of Project Table of Contents: Bridge Images.....1-2 Project Improvements ........ 2 Detour Map............. 4-5, 6, 7 Detour Information ......... 1, 3 Project Timeline ..... 8 Website Information .......... ...8 The Boulevard Page 2 of 8 Page 7 of 8 The Boulevard View of New Boulevard Bridge 2007 Construction Season Review The 2007 Boulevard of the Allies con- fic using the new North Ramp will not be reconstructed that included a barrier struction season has brought some defi- impacted in 2008 while the Boulevard is wall and pedestrian railing from the nite improvements to the Oakland com- shutdown. Parkway East (I-376) Ramp merge with munity. Crews worked hard to construct Forbes Avenue to Ophelia Street. a new retaining wall between the Boule- You will also notice some changes on McDevitt Place was also resurfaced be- vard of the Allies and Fifth Avenue. This Fifth Avenue near the entrance to the tween Forbes Avenue and the Boule- wall allowed for the proper support of new North Ramp. Fifth Avenue was vard of the Allies. This street will be the new North Ramp that connects Fifth resurfaced, a curb lane separator was used during the Boulevard shutdown to Avenue directly to the Boulevard. added along with new drainage im- allow access from Forbes Avenue to the provements and new sidewalks. Addi- Boulevard of the Allies SB. Three additional walls were constructed tional sidewalk work will be necessary in to hold the hillside between the new 2008 to further improve pedestrian traf- In conclusion, all the parties involved in North Ramp and Fifth Avenue. These fic. Extensive storm water drainage the Boulevard of the Allies Bridge Re- areas are to get landscaping treatments work was done on Forbes Avenue to construction would like to thank the mo- in the 2008 construction season. Crews efficiently remove storm water runoff toring public for their patience and un- also completely rebuilt two lanes of the from the projects newly constructed derstanding during the 2007 construc- Boulevard from where the North Ramp roadways. tion season and also ask that they con- merges with the existing Boulevard to tinue to drive safely and courteously the western limits of the Project. This Also in cooperation with the City, a sec- during the 2008 construction season. was done in 2007 so that detoured traf- tion of Forbes Avenue sidewalk was Boulevard of the Allies Closure Traffic Detour Routes Project Improvements The Boulevard of the Allies Mainline ways. A median barrier will be placed traffic movements on Fifth Avenue, and South Ramp bridges will be com- on the Mainline Bridge and will extend Robinson Street and the new North pletely demolished and reconfigured west towards Downtown. Ramp. with a new Mainline Bridge and an exit ramp to Forbes Avenue. Vehicles Construction of a new North Ramp Drainage and sewer improvements using the south exit ramp will no from Fifth Avenue directly to the will be made along the length of the longer have to stop before merging Boulevard of the Allies has eliminated project. Storm water drainage will be onto Forbes Avenue. The south exit the counterflow lane on Forbes Ave- separated from the existing combined ramp lane will flow onto Forbes Ave- nue. sanitary and storm sewer system as nue via a lane dedicated to merging required by Federal Regulations. south ramp traffic. This lane will With the elimination of the counterflow eliminate the dangerous conditions lane, the three existing narrow lanes The traffic signal at Craft Avenue and caused by the site obstructions and entering Oakland will be widened. the Boulevard of the Allies will be re- traffic merging onto Forbes Avenue placed and upgraded. The traffic sig- from a stop condition. The intersection of Robinson Street, nal at Craft Avenue and Forbes Ave- Fifth Avenue, and Maurice Street, nue will require timing modifications Travel lanes on the bridge and along have been reconfigured at the request and improved signage. the entire project will have wider lanes of the City of Pittsburgh, using traffic and will provide more safety features islands and improved signage. The than the existing bridges and road- new configuration will allow for better The Boulevard Page 6 of 8 Page 3 of 8 The Boulevard View of Fifth Avenue and New North Ramp Detour Information Continued from Page 1 town to Grant Street if possible. All Detailed Detour Information traffic approaching Oakland from the Traffic will be required to merge into Boulevard of the Allies (SR 0885) SB the right lane. FROM DOWNTOWN AND CROSS- will be directed onto the Parkway East TOWN BOULEVARD (SR 579) (I-376) EB. The detour will direct traf- Again, several variations will occur fic through the Squirrel Hill Tunnels to with a single lane being open to traffic Traffic will be directed through down- the Swissvale exit onto Monongahela as work progresses, so be alert for town via Grant Street and onto the Avenue then to South Braddock Ave- Fifth Avenue changes. Tentatively, by August 24, Parkway East (I-376) EB toward Mon- nue. The detour will then direct traffic 2008, Forbes Avenue will be opened roeville. Once on the Parkway East, back onto the Parkway East (I-376) back to 2 lanes of unrestricted traffic traffic will take the Oakland exit onto WB toward Downtown, through the from the Parkway East (I-376) Ramp Forbes Avenue. Squirrel Hill Tunnels to the Oakland merge with Forbes Avenue to McDevitt exit to Bates Street. Place. FROM THE NORTH SHORE AND NORTH HILLS – SR 279, SR 28 & SR SOUTH SIDE/BIRMINGHAM BRIDGE *Weekend Closures – Forbes Avenue 65 will be closed completely to traffic sev- This route will not be detoured except eral weekends for construction activi- Traffic coming into Oakland from the during weekend closures of Forbes ties including demolition of the existing North will be directed onto the Park- Avenue.