New Concrete Sidewalk Poured at Sixth and Fifth Avenues
January 27, 2025
PRT’s contractor poured new concrete sidewalk at the work zone along Sixth Avenue and Fifth Avenue adjacent to Duquesne University’s Libermann Hall Downtown.
Concrete can only be poured at temperatures greater than 40 degrees, so the contractor set up a heated tent to maintain the required temperature for the concrete to cure.
When construction is complete, this location will be safer and more accessible with a newly expanded sidewalk, accessible ramps, and granite curbs.
This intersection of Fifth and Sixth avenues has been modernized to include ADA compliant curb ramps and cross walks, new traffic signals and lighting, accessible pedestrian signals with push button activators, and illuminated pedestrian countdown signals.
Construction fencing is expected to remain in place until spring. A portion of the sidewalk will remain open to pedestrians.
New Traffic Signal Pole to be Placed at Sixth and Liberty Avenues
PRT’s electrical crews will begin installing a new traffic signal pole on Liberty Avenue at Seventh Street adjacent to the 7-Eleven Downtown this week. The new pole will replace the construction barrel seen near the intersection in the photo above.
Weather permitting, work will begin today, January 27. Crews will be working Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. During that time, one travel lane on the south side of Liberty Avenue, adjacent to Midtown Towers will be closed daily and reopen each night. Traffic safety personnel will facilitate traffic during working hours.
Sidewalk access will be maintained in front of Midtown Towers and the 7-Eleven.
Work is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
Preconstruction Activities to Continue in Uptown and Oakland
PRT’s contractor is working in coordination with the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure to identify and mark the locations where new traffic signals will be placed.
There are roughly 40 intersections along the corridor which will include, ADA compliant curb ramps and cross walks, new traffic signals and lighting, accessible pedestrian signals with push button activators, and illuminated pedestrian countdown signals.
Other preconstruction activities will include exploratory excavation to identify and locate utilities and utilizing cameras to inspect the existing sewers.
PRT's contractor will begin televising sewers next week. CCTV is used to verify the location and condition of underground utilities.
Most preconstruction activities will require a temporary lane closure.
Traffic restrictions will be removed in the evening and then reset the following day.
Construction Locations for the University Line in Downtown
PRT’s contractor has seven major work zones in downtown Pittsburgh. Five of the locations will be PRTX stations (highlighted in green) and the other two locations are safety improvement zones (highlighted in blue).
When construction for the University Line is complete, there will be five new PRTX stations:
- Ross Street Station
- William Penn Place Station
- Market Square Station
- Wood Street Station
- Steel Plaza Station
In addition to the five stations, there are two safety improvement sites at:
6. Sixth Avenue (between Fifth Avenue and Diamond Street)
7. Sixth Avenue (between Smithfield Street and William Penn Place)
Both locations will have new expanded sidewalks with granite curbs and accessible ramps improving safety and accessibility along the corridor.
To learn more about each of the current construction locations, please visit our Construction Locations web page.
Thank you for your continued support of this project.
For questions or concerns, please contact brt@rideprt.org or 412-442-2000.