Saw Mill Run Boulevard reopens amid bridge replacement work

Saw Mill Run Boulevard in Pittsburgh has partially reopened now that the new Shaler Street Bridge has been transported to its new location.

One lane in each direction between the West End Circle and the Parkway West opened early Wednesday morning. The road has been closed since Sunday for the bridge installation.

The other lanes will be closed until mid-December as workers install new guide rails and replace the median barrier. However, Southbound Route 19 will open an additional lane after Steelers home games to help deal with the extra traffic.

A large vehicle called a self-propelled modular transporter moved the new Shaler Street Bridge from a temporary staging area to its permanent home Monday. It’s the first time PennDOT has used a transport, which shaved months off the bridge replacement.

The new bridge is expected to open in about two weeks.

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