Traffic Moving Better Than Expected Along Fort Pitt Detour Routes, According To Figures Released by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)

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Traffic Moving Better Than Expected Along Fort Pitt Detour Routes, According To Figures Released by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
    PITTSBURGH, May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Commuting delays as a result of the
Fort Pitt Bridge and Tunnel Rehabilitation Project are less than expected,
according to figures released today by the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation (PennDOT).
    Data compiled by PennDOT traffic engineers reports that motorists rerouted
because of Point State Park Portal Bridge construction are averaging extra
commuting times of about 7 minutes during morning peak travel periods and
about 6 minutes during peak evening travel periods.
    Motorists who normally travel the routes currently serving as detours for
the project are averaging additional commuting times of only 3 minutes
during morning peak travel periods and only 1 minute during evening peak
travel periods.
    Using  a "floating car" technique to study the travel times, PennDOT staff
drive the detour and alternative routes during morning and evening peak
travel periods to determine exact commuting times.
    PennDOT credits the favorable statistics to the high-level of awareness
among motorists to use the posted detours, as well as the efforts of
off-duty police officers at key intersections throughout the project area.

    Editors' Note:  Attached for your convenience are the figures referenced
above.

              Fort Pitt Bridge and Tunnel Rehabilitation Project

                             Average Travel Times

    I. Peak Morning Period (6 a.m. - 9 a.m.)

    Route                               Before Construction        Current
                                             (minutes)            (minutes)

    Portal Bridge to Parkway West               8.1                CLOSED
    West End Bridge detour route               10.4                  11.9
    Liberty Tunnels alternative route          14.7                  22.3
    Stanwix St. to Liberty Ave. on-ramp
     detour route                               9.4                  10.0

    Portal Bridge to Parkway East
     from Route 65                              6.7                CLOSED
    Fort Duquesne Blvd. to Grant St.
     to Blvd. of Allies
     to Parkway East                           13.5                  17.5
    West End Bridge to Fort Pitt Bridge to
     Parkway East                              13.5                  13.1
    Stanwix St. to Fort Pitt Blvd. to
     Parkway East                              10.5                  14.0

    II.  Peak Evening Period (3 p.m. - 7 p.m.)

    Route                               Before Construction        Current
                                             (minutes)            (minutes)

    Portal Bridge to Parkway West               9.9                CLOSED
    West End Bridge detour route               16.9                  13.0
    Liberty Tunnels alternative route          21.0                  21.0
    Stanwix St. to Liberty Ave. on-ramp
     detour route                              11.7                  10.4

    Portal Bridge to Parkway East
     from Route 65                              7.9                CLOSED
    Fort Duquesne Blvd. to Grant St.
     to Blvd. of Allies
     to Parkway East                           14.8                  24.2
    West End Bridge to Fort Pitt Bridge to
     Parkway East                              13.4                   8.2
    Stanwix St. to Fort Pitt Blvd. to
     Parkway East                              13.6                  13.4
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Transportation