To restore vital transit operations to Pittsburgh's Polish Hill and Strip District neighborhoods, the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway, closed for a week due to a landslide, is slated to reopen tonight.
According to WTAE, the landslide, triggered by a substantial water main break last Friday, dumped debris across the thoroughfare, necessitating the closure. Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) announced that more than 100 tons of concrete barriers will be erected along a 272-foot portion of the busway to counter further disruptions.
Based on advice from their geotechnical engineering consultant, PRT has given the green light to reopen the busway following the successful placement of the barriers, subject to the arrival and installation of said barriers on time. This stretch of the busway, providing a connection between the Strip District and Oakland, will temporarily set up a mobile traffic light to ensure buses can navigate the area one at a time, using the lane farthest from the hillside. Additionally, a 25 mph speed limit will be imposed on all vehicles in this section, as detailed by WPXI.
Installing 34 barriers and 21 concrete blocks will help prevent more landslides and keep public transit users safe. This solution is necessary to avoid further disruptions for the city's bus riders. Quick actions by the transit authority and its consultants have restored Pittsburgh's public transportation system.
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