The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will build a $138 million interchange in Pittsburgh. The department recently selected its preferred alternative for the Interstate 376 Parkway East – Squirrel Hill Interchange Improvement Project, with construction slated to begin in 2029.
Among the changes included in the project’s “Alternative F” design, the eastbound on-ramp will be relocated to provide additional room for merging before the tunnel and to help mitigate congestion. Plans include building a longer eastbound off-ramp traveling beneath the newly relocated on-ramp. Once completed, the new ramp configurations will eliminate the interstate’s current weave condition.
In the opposite direction, the department will build a new signalized intersection leading onto a westbound on-ramp. The westbound off-ramp will have a new diverge point west of the tunnel portal.
In addition to reconfiguring the ramp location, PennDOT will build two new bridges to provide trucks and larger vehicles with a safer exit ramp. The project vision also calls for making improvements to local roads near the interchange. These improvements include:
- Building a separate local lane for residences.
- Installing a roundabout.
- Making signal upgrades.
PennDOT will work to improve multimodal safety conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians by replacing an existing sidewalk with a shared use path. Once completed, the path will be located adjacent to the westbound on-ramp. Several bus stops are also slated to be relocated for greater safety.
Photo by Jay Brand from Pexels
