While announcing the end of this year's major construction projects, PennDOT is telling drivers now to start preparing for the month-long closure of a major stretch of the Parkway East in 2026.
Speaking in front of the new Commercial Street bridge that is being built to replace the old one, PennDOT’s District 11 Executive Director Jason Zang says motorists need to start planning now for the highway's closure all of next July to demolish the old one and slide the new one in place.
But it's better than the alternative.
“The reason why we’re doing it this way, in this innovative fashion, is because we’re going to avoid a four-year conventional construction situation, where we would be backing the Parkway up every day, for four years, that would be terrible to go through,” said Zang.
So, drivers will take the same detour that was in place when the Parkway closed last summer---getting off at Wilkinsburg and finally getting back on after Oakland.
Here are some of the other projects you should expect from PennDOT in 2026:
Notable projects continuing in 2026 include:
Route 18 Frankfort Road Bridge Replacement project in Beaver County, $29.2 million.
Route 51 Clairton Boulevard (Coal Valley Road to Lebanon Church Road Interchange) Betterment project in Allegheny County, $20.1 million.
Route 68 (Virginia Avenue to Adams Street) Betterment project in Beaver County, $5.4 million.
I-79 (Campbell’s Run Road to Moon Run) Betterment project in Allegheny County, $14.97 million.
I-79 at Route 910 Wexford Interchange project in Allegheny County, $46.5 million.
I-376 Commercial Street Bridge Replacement project in Allegheny County, $95 million.
I-376 Parkway East (Churchill to Monroeville) Betterment project in Allegheny County, $70.17 million.
I-376 ITS Installation project in Beaver County, $5.3 million.
Route 885 Boulevard of the Allies Ramps Bridge Preservation project in Allegheny County, $37 million.
Route 2006 East Washington Street Bridge Replacement project in Lawrence County, $7.4 million.
Route 2040 Lebanon Church Road Improvement project in Allegheny County, $29 million.
Liberty Tunnel Roof Replacement project in Allegheny County, $3.4 million.