Clemente Bridge to be closed 2 days this month

The Roberto Clemente Bridge, one of a trio of Pittsburgh bridges known as the Three Sisters, will be closed for inspection Sept. 12 and 19.

Brent Wasko, public information officer for the Allegheny County Department of Public Works, said work began Monday but will be done on the underside of the span, which crosses the Allegheny River at 6th Street.

”The inspection work will be taking place periodically (through) Sept. 19,” Wasko said.

On most days, work will be completed under the bridge.

“On September 12 and 19, crews will be inspecting the top of the deck and everything above it,” he said.

One those days, the bridge will be closed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Cost of the project is $162,000 and is being done by Michael Baker International and Michael Facchiano Contracting of Mt. Lebanon.

Motorists can use a suggested detour along Fort Duquesne Boulevard, the Andy Warhol Bridge and Isabella Street.

Wasko said nearly 7,900 vehicles use the bridge each day. It was most recently inspected in May 2019.

Work is being done in preparation for the bridge rehab project that is expected to begin in late 2021.

The Clemente Bridge is home to one of Pittsburgh’s premiere summer festivals, Picklesburgh.

It’s popularity in recent years drew more than 200,000 people to the three-day specialty food event in 2019, and caused police to limit access to the bridge for concerns of overcrowding.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Picklesburgh was canceled this year.