If you’re walking on Forbes Avenue in Oakland, you might want to stay on the north side of the street for the next few weeks because of multiple projects impeding road and sidewalk traffic.
Two new projects started this month as part of Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s bus rapid transit system, and more are coming.
PRT’s contractor is relocating drainage and electrical infrastructure before building new bus stations along Forbes Avenue. The first site is on the Forbes side of Schenley Plaza and the other is in front of Pitt Law school.
In both areas, the right lane and the sidewalk just adjacent to it are closed. The bike lane near Schenley Plaza has been moved to beside the construction fencing. Walkways further into Schenley Plaza and just adjacent to the law school are still accessible.
The traffic detour near Schenley Plaza will will remain in place 24/7 until May, while the one near the law school is slated to end in April. The contractor will be building two 60-foot bus shelters and transit amenities at the two locations later this year.
Between these two sites, the sidewalk and one traffic lane remain closed beside Hillman Library as work finishes up on the multi-year renovation project at the library. In January, it was announced the lane closure would remain in place through March 31, but it may last longer. The ground floor and new atrium entrance of the library are scheduled to open later this year.
From 8 p.m. March 21 to midnight March 22, PRT is restricting access to Forbes Avenue at McKee Place for roadway restoration. A portion of Forbes Avenue in that location will be open to traffic, while McKee Place will be closed except for emergency vehicles, according to the Post-Gazette.
The bus stop at Forbes and McKee will be closed, but the stops at Halket Street or Meyran Avenue will be open.
On March 29, contractors are installing fencing in two locations along Forbes — between McKee Place and Semple Street, and between Craft Avenue and Halket Street — to construct new sidewalks, curbs, sewer infrastructure, electrical conduits, and accessible ramps.
Work will take place from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day other than Sundays through May at those locations. One travel lane and the sidewalks will be blocked during that time.
Work on the University Line bus rapid transit project began in Downtown Pittsburgh in September 2023. The University Line will feature dedicated bus lanes and enhanced transit amenities, connecting downtown Pittsburgh to Oakland. The $291 million project is expected to be operational by 2027.
— Susan Jones
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