I-579 ramps to reopen Friday morning in Pittsburgh

Paul Guggenheimer | Thursday, July 2, 2020 7:31 p.m.

Courtesy: Sports and Exhibition Authority

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pittsburgh announced street and I-579 ramp closures starting Sept. 6, 2019, for construction of a $30 million “cap” over I-579 between Centre Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard in Downtown Pittsburgh.

There is good news for travelers who use the ramps impacted by the I-579 “Cap” Urban Connector project.

The ramps from Seventh Avenue and Bedford Avenue to southbound I-579 will reopen to traffic at 6 a.m. Friday morning.

The ramps have been closed since Jan. 4 to allow construction of the last pier and columns, relocate drainage to each ramp and reconstruct the pavement.

The ramps will be reduced to single lanes as work continues on the overall project.

The $29.34 million project, sponsored by the City of Pittsburgh and the Sports and Exhibition Authority, involves building a structure spanning I-579 to link Downtown Pittsburgh and the Hill District.

The Cap project will create a new three-acre green space, including pedestrian pathways, bicycle routes and rain gardens for stormwater management.