Shaler Street Bridge to close for maintenance work this week

The Shaler Street Bridge over Route 19 in Pittsburgh’s West End will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, PennDOT announced Monday.

Swank Construction Company LLC will do road maintenance from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, causing the bridge to close. Traffic will be detoured through Grandview Avenue.

After the maintenance, crews will continue making improvements to the bridge, which could affect traffic. Work will include curb improvements, sidewalk and barrier placement, protective coating on the deck, barrier and approach slabs and final pavement. Weekday single-lane alternating restrictions and off-peak closures may occur.

The Shaler Street Bridge work is part of a $14.55 million project that also includes concrete reconstruction of Route 19, median barrier replacement, sign structure replacement, ramp improvements and lengthening the Wabash Street deceleration ramp, PennDOT said.

PennDOT replaced the bridge this month using a self-propelled modular transporter. The new method allowed pre-fabricated sections of the bridge to be moved into place, speeding up the process to replace the bridge. It was the first time PennDOT used the new process.