Flooding closes both 'bathtub' on Parkway East and nearby Parkway North ramp, detours announced

Flooding has closed both the westbound “bathtub” section of the Parkway East (Interstate 376) and the southbound Parkway North (I-279) ramp to the Parkway East outbound in Pittsburgh.

The closures occurred at about 8:20 Friday night.

The dip in the Parkway East known as “the bathtub” was expected to close at 11 p.m. Friday night but the river rose faster than expected, PennDOT spokeswoman Yasmeen Manyisha said.

That section of I-376 closed because the adjacent Monongahela River is swollen as a result of recent rains and melting snow.

PennDOT said traffic approaching this section of the Parkway East , located between Grant Street and the Fort Pitt Bridge, is being detoured.

The posted detour from westbound I-376 will take traffic to the Grant Street (Exit 71A) off-ramp then left onto westbound I-376 ramp toward the Fort Pitt Bridge.

Parkway North ramp impacted

Minutes after closing the “bathtub,” PennDOT closed the southbound Parkway North ramp to the Parkway East outbound.

The ramp taking traffic from the Fort Duquesne Bridge on southbound I-279 to eastbound I-376, commonly referred to as the Interstate Connector, was also closed.

The PennDOT detour moves traffic on southbound I-279 to the Fort Pitt Bridge, and then to westbound I-376 (Parkway West) where motorists will continue through the Fort Pitt Tunnel.

Drivers must stay in the righthand lane and follow signs to eastbound I-376.

Then take exit 69A toward South Banksville Road.

Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376.

Details will be posed on www.511PA.com.