Mon incline to close in August for 4 months for upgrades

The Monongahela Incline will be closed for four months for a rehabilitation project, Pittsburgh Regional Transit authorities announced Thursday.

Improvements include modernizing the mechanical controls and electrical systems as well as upgrades to the interiors of the upper and lower stations.

PRT and its contractors will begin mobilizing this month.

The incline will be out of service from Aug. 1 through mid-November.

Shuttle buses will run every 30 minutes for the duration of the project to provide access between the upper and lower incline stations.

On weekdays and Saturdays, the first trip will leave the upper station at 5:30 a.m. and the last trip will leave Station Square at 12:30 a.m. On Sundays, the first trip will leave the upper station at 8:30 a.m. and the last trip will leave Station Square at midnight.

Spokesman Adam Brandolph said service frequency depends on operator availability.

PRT also added trips to the 40-Mt. Washington to provide additional service.

“It’s a really exciting project,” Brandolph said. “We are looking forward to it. Obviously, the four-month closure is not ideal, but we did work with the community on the schedule.”

He said officials made it a point to get the work done after the July 4 holiday and before Light Up Night on Nov. 19.

Contractors will be working up to seven days a week in different areas of the incline on alternating shifts to complete the $8.2 million project.

Some interior work may occur overnight depending on the task, weather and work coordination.

“It’s going to be a really good upgrade and update for a historic element in Pittsburgh,” Brandolph said.

Project updates will be posted at PortAuthority.org/InclineRehab.