Temporary Work Zone Tstablished at Fifth Avenue and Market Street

Temporary Work Zone Established Downtown at Fifth Avenue and Market Street

Construction to repair a drainage issue adjacent to Market Square PRTX Station in downtown Pittsburgh began on Monday, October 20.

Sections of Market Street and Fifth Avenue will be closed for approximately three weeks while PRT contractors make repairs to resolve a drainage issue that has been causing water to collect at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Market Street.

Crews will be on site from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and weekends as needed.

Market Street PRTX Station will be out of service during construction. Riders of bus routes 61A, 61B, and 61C, 71B, G2 and P1 should use the detour stop at the existing shelter on Liberty Avenue at Market Street.

Traffic Impacts: 

Now through October 26, Fifth Avenue is closed between Liberty Avenue and Market Street. Vehicles are not able to make a right turn from Liberty Avenue onto Fifth Avenue. Vehicles on Liberty Avenue can turn right onto Wood Street and left on to Fifth Avenue to travel outbound on Fifth Avenue.

Drivers needing access to businesses on Fifth Avenue between Market Street and Wood Street should take Liberty Avenue to Market Street where access will be provided for businesses.

Starting October 27, ​ Market Street will close between Liberty Avenue and Fifth Avenue. Fifth Avenue will reopen to traffic between Liberty Avenue and Market Street. Then, vehicles will be able to turn right from Liberty Avenue onto Fifth Avenue.

Starting November 1, Market Street is expected to reopen and additional sidewalk work wil be completed while two-directional traffic is facilitated with flaggers.

Drivers are advised to allow additional time for travel.

Market Square PRTX Station is expected to be back in-service on November 7.

Utility Relocation Continues in Uptown

PRT’s contractor continues to relocate drainage infrastructure along both Forbes and Fifth avenues in Uptown. Stormwater inlet relocations are needed to match the new expanded sidewalks and curbs.

This work will require a partial lane closure providing access to the manhole and/or catch basin on or near the curb. Traffic restrictions will change as work progresses and moves within the zone. Lane restrictions will be removed each night.

Green Infrastructure Installation Ongoing in Uptown

​PRT’s contractor continues to install green infrastructure on Forbes Avenue at Jumonville Street in Uptown.

Above ground plantings have been put in the trench located between Schenley Drive and Schenley Drive Extension.

Ultimately, green infrastructure (GI) will be installed at 18 locations as part of the University Line project. Thirteen locations will have underground GI storage trenches which will not be visible once construction is complete. Five locations will have bioswales, commonly known as rain gardens, with both underground infrastructure and visable above ground plantings. 

Bioswales/above ground stormwater retention ponds will be located at:

As work progresses, crews will begin to excavate these locations and create a frame for the bioswales. The bioswales are long trenches which collect storm water runoff from the streets and sidewalks, allowing water to collect and infiltrate slowly into the ground rather than overload the combined sewer system.

Crews will install a sub-base of gravel and organic matter before a final layer of vegetation is applied. These layers will slow the water infiltration and filter out pollutants.

Parking Lot Construction Advances at Fifth Avenue and Kirkpatrick Street

PRT’s contractor is in the process of building a retaining wall for the future residential parking lot at Fifth Avenue and Kirkpatrick Street.

The lot is being constructed for residents only along Fifth Avenue, as street parking on the north side of Fifth Avenue will be permanently removed to accommodate the future bus lane. When complete, this parking lot will only be available for use by residents who live in the dedicated parking zone and acquire the required parking permit to park within that zone.

This lot will be completed before street parking is removed from the north side of the 2300 block of Fifth Avenue.

The University Line Corridor 

When construction for the University Line is complete, there will be 24 PRTX stations throughout Downtown, Uptown, and Oakland. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 

PRT continues to work closely with stakeholders including community groups, universities, businesses, and other impacted groups during construction. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 

PRTX stations will have new shelters with upgraded amenities, including next-bus arrival screens, fare vending machines, seating, lighting, emergency phones, and security cameras. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 

For questions or concerns, please contact brt@rideprt.org or 412-442-2000.