What's New

The Tunnel Boring Machine is being turned around in the receiving pit for work on the second tunnel

The receiving pit near the Gateway Center in downtown Pittsburgh

Tunnel Boring Machine Begins The Voyage Back to The North Shore:

On September 4, 2008, the 500-ton Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) began mining the second of the North Shore Connector’s twin tunnels.

The machine reached the Stanwix Street receiving pit at 7:46 p.m. on July 10, 2008 following five-and-one-half months of mining. Since that evening, crews carefully moved the TBM out of the first tunnel, onto a steel cradle, turned it around using hydraulic jacks and moved it up against the pit’s north wall in preparation for the return bore to the North Shore.

The TBM is scheduled to reach the North Shore launch pit and complete the second tunnel in late December.

Since mining began on January 22, 2008, the tunnel boring machine advanced 35-40 feet per day, working its way from the North Shore launch pit, beneath the Equitable Resources building and under the Allegheny River to the receiving pit.

Stanwix Street Closed Between Penn Avenue and Liberty Avenue:

Stanwix Street between Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Penn Avenue will be closed for approximately one month beginning Tuesday, September 16, 2008 after the morning rush to facilitate the moving of the tunnel boring machine’s trailing gear.

Motorists can use Fort Duquesne Boulevard, Commonwealth Place, Liberty Avenue and Sixth Street as alternate routes.

Access to 625 Stanwix Tower and Parking Garage is being maintained.

Bus Routes Detoured

Although vehicular traffic can currently use Stanwix Street, twenty-two Port Authority bus routes that use Stanwix Street and Fort Duquesne Boulevard are currently detoured:

13C Perry Highway Express
13F West View Express
13J Franklin Park Express
13K Cranberry Express
13X Ross Express
18B Avalon-Shadeland Express
18C Bellevue-Union Avenue Express
21A Coraopolis
21B Kenmawr
21C West Park
21D Kennedy
21F Presston-Kenmawr
26A Ingram-Sheraden
26B Fairywood
26D Chartiers City
36A Mt. Lebanon-Banksville
36C Green Tree
36D Westwood
38C Green Tree Express
B Bellevue Flyer
CO Coraopolis Flyer
OV Ohio Valley Flyer

Also, bus service will be temporarily discontinued to three stops in the area. Rider alerts will be posted, advising customers to use alternative stops to catch their buses.

Future Street Closures Regarding Construction of Gateway Station Shell

The intersection of Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street will be closed for eight months from fall 2008 through summer 2009. Stanwix Street traffic will be detoured via Sixth Street.
Beginning Summer 2008, Stanwix Street between Liberty and Penn avenues will be closed for approximately two years. Sixth Street can be utilized as a detour.
The triangle between Penn and Liberty avenues will be used as a staging area for heavy equipment as work begins on building the new T station in late 2009. As a result, the intersections of Liberty and Stanwix will be closed mid 2009. Traffic traveling on Penn Avenue will not be permitted to turn left onto Stanwix Street. Penn Avenue Extension will remain open. Work is expected to be completed in Summer 2010.

Customers should expect delays due to these detours and those wishing additional information should contact Port Authority Customer Service at (412) 442-2000 or the TTY number, (412) 231-7007, for the speech and hearing impaired.