The ‘vital connection corridor’ is open to the public again.

Courtesy of City of Pittsburgh

Photos: Northside Leadership Conference

PITTSBURGH, PA (October 22, 2021) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) is pleased to announce that work is approaching completion of the new West Ohio Street Bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad in Allegheny Commons Park in the Northside. The $6.25 million bridge project is on track for completion in early December.

This bridge was closed to traffic in January 2018 due to deterioration of the 117-year-old structure. While work is on-going, the project is now at a stage where the new bridge can accommodate all pedestrians, vehicles, and transit. This bridge was opened to all users on Thursday, October 21, 2021. At this time, pedestrians who have been traveling along the southern perimeter of the worksite to cross the temporary pedestrian bridge can make use of the new bridge. Merchant Street at the intersection of Ridge Avenue will remain closed while the old Ridge Place bridge is demolished over the coming weeks.

Please be mindful of construction and new detours in the area as work progresses on the adjacent roadway project in Allegheny Circle.

Thank you for your patience with these Northside improvements. If you have any questions, or require further information regarding this project you may contact the City’s Response Center by calling 311 or 412-255-2621. To learn more about DOMI’s other projects, please visit our website at https://pittsburghpa.gov/domi/current-projects.

Jesse Descutner, Main Street & Events Manager for the Northside Leadership Conference, wrote in a guest blog for BikePGH:

“With this vital connection corridor back online, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists can breathe a collective sigh of relief as they have one less detour to navigate.

“Improvements to the West Ohio Street Bridge include: marked bike lanes on both sides of the street that connect to the existing West Ohio Street bike lanes and the future West Commons bike facilities; a new signalized crosswalk at the West Ohio Street and Ridge Avenue intersection; and new solar-powered streetlights that a contractor on site described to be ‘as bright as the lights at PNC Park.’

“The site remains an active construction zone until mid-December as work is finalized.”