Extended Weekend Closure of The Mount Washington Transit Tunnel - Final Punch List Construction Work
Pittsburgh Regional Transit and its contractor, Mascaro Construction, in an effort to perform final punch list work within the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel, will close same to perform work over the extended weekend of October 2- October 5, 2026.
Work and the full Transit Tunnel closure will begin with the end service on Friday evening, October 2, 2026; then continue all weekend until around 4:00 AM Monday, October 5, 2026.
Light rail service will detour via long established Allentown tracks in Warrington and New Arlington Avenues, with a Station Square - Allegheny Station rail shuttle car being made available to and from Station Square Station for free transfer to and from detoured Red, Silver & Blue Line cars.
Buses will detour inbound via the same Allentown streets and to protect all existing outbound stops, will detour outbound via the Wabash Tunnel.
Start: 10/03/2026 — End: 10/05/2026
The City of Pittsburgh's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI), in conjunction with PennDOT District 11 and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, have announced their intention to close a portion of Smithfield Street and the Smithfield Street Bus Lane in the Downtown area of Pittsburgh beginning Monday, September 21, 2026.
The closure is required to allow contractors to perform full street reconstruction including the roadway, curb and sidewalk improvements related to the city's Smithfield Street Reconstruction Project.
Beginning with the start of service on Monday morning, September 21, 2026, Smithfield Street and the Smithfield Street Bus Lane between Oliver and Fifth Avenues will be closed. Once closed it is estimated the block will be closed for approximately two months before shifting to the following block, between Fifth and Forbes Avenue.
The overall project, which will alternatively close Smithfield Street between Sixth and Forbes Avenues, is expected to continue for approximately two (2) years.
Start: 09/21/2026 — End: 10/17/2026
Standing Detour - Emergency Closure Of Smithfield Street Bridge
On occasion, the historic Smithfield Street Bridge, a vital link for thirteen (13) Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus routes and four routes for two regional transit agencies (FACT, MMVTA) as well as the bus substitution routing for buses replacing light rail service, when the bridge is compromised, either due to scheduled maintenance or emergencies, must use a lengthy and extensive detour until service over the Smithfield Street Bridge is restored.
Closures could be for heavy maintenance of the bridge by PennDOT or due to emergencies such as excessive flooding of the Monongahela River and high waters or by barge strikes on the piers of the bridge, resulting in concerns for its structural integrity until fully inspected.
This detour will be activated by default, usually by police or emergency forces closing the bridge immediately for emergencies.
Start: 01/01/2026 — End: 12/31/2026