PennDOT announced plans Wednesday to make changes to the Squirrel Hill interchange on the Parkway East (Interstate 376).
The department said the goal of the project — between the Greenfield Bridge and Squirrel Hill Tunnel — will be to improve safety for travelers, reduce crashes and enhance pedestrian access on local streets.
The current design, titled Alternative F, would call for relocating the outbound on-ramp, providing more room to merge prior to the tunnel and mitigating congestion on Beechwood Boulevard. It also calls for a longer outbound off-ramp, starting just west of Greenfield Bridge and passing under the new eastbound on-ramp. The weave condition between the current interchange ramps will be eliminated by a traffic light on Beechwood.
Motorists will only be able to access the westbound on-ramp from Forward Avenue at a new signalized intersection. The inbound off-ramp diverge point will be further west of the tunnel portal with a new bridge constructed over the Parkway, providing trucks and larger vehicles a safer exit ramp.
A separate local lane is planned for residents of Beechwood Boulevard near Forward Avenue. A roundabout is planned at the Monitor Street and Beechwood Boulevard intersection, and various signal upgrades.
The existing sidewalk along Forward Avenue will be replaced with a new shared use path for pedestrians and bicyclists. The project will include the relocation of several bus stops to “safer locations in the area,” PennDot said.
The public is encouraged to provide feedback through the project’s online comment form. Additional public meetings will be held throughout the design phase to discuss the progress of the project and gather additional feedback.
People can view renderings of Alternative F at pa.gov.
Construction on this project is anticipated to begin in 2029 and conclude in 2032.
