Overview
- Commercial Street reopened to drivers on Monday, restoring the main local route that had been closed for more than a month for demolition, bridge work and cleanup.
- PennDOT and contractors had closed the roadway to prepare for bridge demolition and to perform a bridge slide, with the Parkway East returned to traffic 17 days after its closure.
- Residents said the closure caused longer travel times and cut-through traffic through neighborhoods, and many expressed relief when the street and nearby Nine Mile Run trail reopened.
- Crews still must move Commercial Street and the Nine Mile Trail back into their original positions, repair trails and finish landscaping, so the full project is not expected to be complete until next summer.
- Officials used an accelerated demolition and bridge‑slide schedule to limit long-term Parkway lane restrictions, trading short-term neighborhood disruption for a faster overall timeline.