Parkway East Reopens Ahead Of Schedule
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The round-the-clock work to clean up the rubble left behind on the Parkway East following the implosion of the Greenfield Bridge has paid off.
Drivers from all over headed downtown Thursday night, and that includes those who use the Parkway East. For those coming into town to celebrate First Night, it should have been smooth sailing.
The inbound lanes of the Parkway opened early in the afternoon, well ahead of the scheduled Friday morning deadline set by the city and PennDOT.
Opening the outbound lanes took a few hours longer because of potholes and other roadway damage that occurred when concrete and metal from the bridge came tumbling down onto the road. But that side reopened around 8:30 p.m.
"The outbound lanes, there was some damage to the Parkway that they're having to repair," Pittsburgh Public Works asst. director Pat Hassett said. "They are replacing some of the shoulders out on the Parkway and they're filling some of the potholes, the asphalt on the Parkway was damaged by some of the falling debris. That's why there's a delay in opening the outbound lanes of the Parkway."
"We're surprised that there was any damage because we did have it pretty well protected," Hassett added.
City of Pittsburgh's Chief Operations Manager Guy Costa told the "KDKA Morning News" the contractor and Public Works worked to clear the Parkway of debris last night.
"I'm happy to report later on this afternoon, the Parkway inbound will be reopen for folks to come into downtown Pittsburgh, or wherever they need to be," Costa said.
Costa said the only work left is to put up a few Jersey barriers.
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