Kennywood: I-376 Edgewood/Swissvale Exit to Close 4/17

Recently there have been signs along I-376 alerting drivers that the exit ramps for the Edgewood Swissvale exit will be closed starting 3/17. I do not know how long they will be closed for and if they will be closed only during certain hours or only on weekdays, but being from Pittsburgh, I can offer a few alternate routes to Kennywood if this runs into Kennywood's season.

Alternate:
Get off at Squirrel Hill/Homestead exit on I-376 just before Squirrel Hill Tunnel (OR after tunnel if youre coming from the east)

Proceed straight on Beechwood Blvd (if coming from Pittsburgh....if coming from the east, youll need to turn LEFT onto beechwood blvd following your exit from 376) until you come to the second traffic light. Beechwood Blvd then veers off to the left, but you want to continue straight down a hill (this will now be Browns Hill Road) Go down the hill and across the Homestead HighLevel Bridge. After the bridge, turn left and keep going until you reach Kennywood.

--IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFO REGARDING THE TIMES AND DURATION OF THE CLOSURES OF THE EXIT, PLEASE LET US KNOW. *** Edited 4/12/2006 7:28:43 PM UTC by Jeff Reim***

In PA you have four seasons, Fall, Winter, Spring, and Construction. *** Edited 4/12/2006 7:33:12 PM UTC by Dutchman***

You got that right Dutchman. What a pain in the ass...

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Jeff Reim said: Go down the hill and across the Homestead HighLevel Bridge. After the bridge, turn left and keep going until you reach Kennywood.

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The bridge is currently being reconstructed and is down to one lane bothways. Every time I've attempted to go down to the waterfront, there's always heavy traffic. Especially during the M-F, 4-10pm time period. *** Edited 4/12/2006 7:52:26 PM UTC by Coasterman Mike***

Geeze, i forgot about that

Darn, Id hate to have people have to go Downtown and get on 2nd Ave and go thru Hazelwood and over the Glenwood Br. just to get to kennywood. Lets hope this I-376 ramp project isnt prolonged or at least hope its open on weekends.

This isn't good news as I always exit at Swissvale when I go to KW.

Please keep us informed of any changes if you hear any.

Thanks.

X Factor

I'm not sure what exactly you're referring to as I come from the West so I never see those signs, but the only planned I-376 project for this year is a repaving project due to start Monday. It will just be during non-peak hours and is only an 11-week project so will not be affecting people coming to Kennywood from the East. Here's a link to the Post-Gazette article about the construction: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06102/681364-147.stm

As far as the high-level bridge, just don't try it. It's such an absolute mess ... I go play poker at the Waterfront on Thursday nights and if I aim to be there at 8:15 to 8:30, I just cruise right down the bridge, no problem. But, if I aim for 7:30 when all the moviegoers are headed to Lowe's, it's taken me at least 30-45 minutes longer just sitting in traffic. Translation for all you non-Pittsburgh people: High level bridge is still the best bet in my opinion to get to the park, but add in 30-45 extra minutes to sit in traffic for your trips to and from the park.

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Dutchman said:
In PA you have four seasons, Fall, Winter, Spring, and Construction. *** Edited 4/12/2006 7:33:12 PM UTC by Dutchman***

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In Ohio its Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Construction!

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Dutchman said:
In PA you have four seasons, Fall, Winter, Spring, and Construction.

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And Fall and Spring last only two weeks each.

What the heck is it with the High Level bridge? Everytime I've ever been to Pittsburgh in the past 25 years, that bridge is under construction. Sounds like somebody in PennDOT is making a career out of that thing.

Umm ... since they built the Waterfront, the High Level Bridge has never been under construction. That was ... 2001 I believe was when that place really got going. I would actually say the High Level Bridge is one of the more UNconstructed places in all of Pittsburgh (even though it's needed the work for years ... )

Trust me, no one high up has made a "career" out of anything PennDOT in Allegheny County in the last 5 years or so ... right SpecialEd? ;) At least, as far as District 11 directors go ...

Does anyone have any more information on this? I've looked everywhere for details, and there is not a single mention of the Edgewood/Swissvale exit being closed. The press release on the PennDot website describes lane closures, but not exit closures. *** Edited 4/13/2006 11:03:58 PM UTC by PhantomTails***

Ugh, I live just off of that exit.

Impulsive, then I must just have good timing. Maybe if they'd fix it right one of these times, it wouldn't need so much work. :) No really, I love PennDOT people, I do, I do, I do! If they'd just admit once in awhile their culverts are too small, I'd love them even more.

Of course, I can't remember any time I went to/through Pittsburgh that I went the same way twice. There was always some bridge/ tunnel/ highway closed. That includes the time we got detoured onto some bridge only to see several hundred marathon runners heading directly toward us. Can you say quick U-turn?

The PG runs a nice construction guide every Sunday that gives you a rundown of the current construction projects in the region. Here is this week's: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06106/682577-147.stm

Nothing about Edgewood/Swissvale listed in that list. Good news though since going through Edge/Swiss and across the Rankin Bridge is a better bet to get to the park, especially with the big KW arrow on the hillside behind the traffic lights :)

And yeah, the Highlevel Bridge/Waterfront area is a mess, but the bridge needs work. The Waterfront area is nice, but I always hated going in and out. Since they closed the one exit on Amity Street, there is now two ways to exit. One is the ramp leading to the bridge, and that backs up. The other is on the other side of the development with a narrow two lane bridge. A development like that needs a nice system of ramps and wide areas instead of the narrow bridges and limited access points that it has now. That is Pittsburgh for ya, I guess.

Supposedly when the Waterfront area was being designed, plans called for basically a long ramp from 837 near the current two lane bridge entrance and that ramp would swoop down to the area around Sandcastle, but it was going to cost around $7 million, so it was scrapped. Too bad. I'd bet traffic won't be too nice this summer with people trying to exit the Waterfront and Sandcastle at the same time.

I usually take the Squirrel Hill exit nowadays, since my friend lives literally 5 minutes from Kennywood.

I can't tell you exactly HOW to get there I just know the visuals........

I am still having nightmares about the "You will come to three exits in a row.....take the 2nd one!" After that you will take the left left, not the straight left, etc. ;-)

-Tina

KDKA just posted an article about the construction. You can read that here.

Sounds like a lane will close in the evening and open back up in the morning. Shouldn't effect Kennywood traffic too bad.

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coasterqueenTRN said:
I am still having nightmares about the "You will come to three exits in a row.....take the 2nd one!" After that you will take the left left, not the straight left, etc. ;-)

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Can't even *imagine* what that would've been like with one person driving and taking directions...yikes! The ONLY straight sections of road in Pittsburgh are the tunnels and the bridges, *everything* else seems to curve slightly, curve heavily, or twist itself into a pretzel....

You obviously haven't been through the tunnel that dumps onto Forbes (I can never remember what it's called) from the South Side or on the people mover at the airport! Yes, we have curving tunnels too! Also, the bridge off of Neville Island into Coraopolis, and the end of the Fort Pitt bridge make pretty much 90* bends, if not further ;)

Again, the construction mentioned here will be way past Kennywood before the park even opens, so don't worry about any effect at all on traffic to/from the park. Dumb luck, or good planning, I'll let you decide ;)

Brett, I think I got lost in that section once. ;-)

It's amazing how I can end up from the PA Turnpike to downdown without realizing wtf I just did or how I got there.

MapQuest is just.........evil. ;-)

Bill, if I hadn't of been so tired and grouchy that evening I probably would of listened to the actual directions better. ;-) Looking back on it though, it was one of those "moments" I will never forget.

"You got to be kidding me.....there are three exits in a row?"

Good times!

-Tina

*** Edited 4/18/2006 11:19:45 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Tina, I recall summit that we never let you forget about that, even if you did.