Overview
- The old Commercial Street Bridge was demolished in a controlled explosive implosion on Thursday, and crews have begun clearing rubble and stabilizing the site.
- After debris removal, contractors will laterally slide a prefabricated 22‑million‑pound bridge that has been staged next to the roadway into the existing I‑376 alignment.
- The full closure of I‑376 between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale interchange has diverted roughly 100,000 vehicles a day onto local streets, producing major detours and long delays.
- Public‑health groups and officials warned the blast produced a short‑lived dust plume with elevated fine particles, and nearby residents with breathing risks were advised to stay indoors or wear masks.
- PennDOT says the work follows rehearsals, pre‑drilling and contractor staging to speed replacement, the highway closure is scheduled through about Aug. 3, and cleanup and final restoration could continue for days to weeks after reopening.