R.I.P., Alle-Kiski Connector Bridge
Remember the Alle-Kiski Connector Bridge? May it rest in peace.
Plans for the four-lane crossing of the Allegheny River between Route 28 and New Kensington were put on hold by PennDOT eight years ago because it didn’t want to spend scarce funds to design projects that did not have a “clear funding path,” as then-Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler put it.
Well, it turns out that a nearly $2.5 million earmark from Congress for environmental study for the bridge has been on the federal books all this time. Current U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood has been going through the attic, and recently canceled $473 million in unspent earmarks to reprogram the money for stuff that can actually be built. And, alas, so expires the Alle-Kiski Connector Bridge.
Twenty-seven earmarks for Pennsylvania projects were pronounced dead and the $28.5 million behind them will be reallocated. The state has until Oct. 1 to designate where the money goes and must obligate the money by Dec. 31.
On to the orange barrel report:
Grant Street in Downtown Pittsburgh will close from 6:30 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Monday for replacement of brick pavers at Third Avenue. Traffic will detour to parallel streets.
Banksville Road construction has spread to the daytime and will continue weekdays through early December. Lane closures are possible inbound from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and outbound from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. along the entire road. Night and weekend work also will continue.
The traffic pattern on Route 65 in Emsworth will change Wednesday, with single-lane traffic in both directions shifted to the passing lanes through Aug. 28 to accommodate paving between Camp Horne Road and Terrace Drive.
Cleaning of the outbound Liberty Tunnel will close a lane starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Work wraps by 5 a.m. No inbound restrictions.
Becks Run Road will get a traffic signal and alternating one-way traffic at Parkwood Drive starting Monday and continuing through early October as the massive water company construction project continues. That figures to be a good place to avoid altogether.
Drilling and research may cause alternating one-way traffic on Sewickley-Oakmont Road in Ross from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday between Rochester Road and Richard Drive.
Short-term lane closures are possible on Potato Garden Road in Findlay from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday in the area of the bridge over Potato Garden Run west of Washington Road. Flag crews will control traffic.
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