Section of Route 65 in Pittsburgh To Close Beginning Friday

Route 65 in Pittsburgh will be closed in both directions for more than four months, beginning on Friday, July 15, if weather permits. Several ramp restrictions will also occur.

The closing begins at 7 p.m. Friday. The section will remain closed through late November 2011, according to PennDOT.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman Jim Struzzi said crews planned to rehabilitate the mainline Route 65 bridges at the interchange. Traffic will be detoured using the on-and-off ramps to Beaver Avenue and California Avenue. 

The following will occur:

• Northbound and southbound Route 65 long-term closure July 15 to mid-November.
• The ramp from northbound Route 65 to California Avenue will reopen to accommodate mainline detour.
• The ramp from Marshall Avenue/Route 19 and California Avenue to southbound Route 65 will be closed July 15 to mid-November using Beaver Avenue to detour. The ramp will remain open to Beaver Avenue.

Struzzi said the $20 million project was the second phase of improvements at the Route 65/Marshall Avenue interchange.

Phase II work will rehabilitate the mainline and ramp structures, including deck replacement, steel repairs, cleaning and painting structural steel, highway lighting and other improvements.

Struzzi said on average, around 12,961 northbound vehicles and 13,056 southbound vehicles travel daily on Route 65 in the area of the Marshall Avenue interchange.

Overall work will be completed in the fall. The primary contractor is the Walsh Construction Co.

Motorists can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on most major roadways before traveling.