Plinth repairs

The light-rail tracks sit on a concrete beam (formally called plinths) throughout the downtown subway.

About the Work

When this project began in late 2022, contractors performed the work on weekends from Friday night to early Monday morning to keep any disruptions to a minimum. Although that tactic proved to be less disruptive to riders, we quickly learned that the project would go on for a very long time if we were only working on weekends.

Therefore, beginning on April 5 (immediately following the Pirates home opener), work on this project will be conducted seven days a week through May 30. 

After May 30, the work will continue on some weekends through the summer. An additional multi-week closure to complete the work will likely be required in 2025. 

Riders should expect disruptions from the South Hills to downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore and allow for at least 30 minutes of additional travel time.  

The work will be occurring in the tunnels between Steel Plaza and Gateway stations.

Detours

From April 5 to start of service May 31, 2023, rail cars coming from the South Hills will serve First Avenue and Steel Plaza stations before continuing to Penn Station, the otherwise inactive rail station located across the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway from The Pennsylvanian. 

Riders traveling to Gateway, North Side or Allegheny stations should exit rail vehicles at Penn Station and board a free shuttle bus to Gateway Station. From Gateway, a rail car will operate to North Side and Allegheny stations. 

From Allegheny Station, rail cars will serve North Side and Gateway stations. Riders continuing toward the South Hills should exit rail cars at Gateway, board a shuttle bus from the temporary stop outside the station, and travel to Penn Station, where they can board a rail car to the South Hills.

Shuttle buses will not operate on May 4 and May 5 due to the Pittsburgh Marathon and related events, on May 18 for BikePGH's Open Streets, or on May 19 for the Rush to Crush Cancer.

Wood Street Station will be closed throughout the duration of the project.