Monday's calm in Downtown Pittsburgh was ruptured by an underground explosion that sent manhole covers flying and caused black smoke to plume from the street. According to CBS News Pittsburgh, Duquesne Light's wiring system was identified as the malfunctioning culprit responsible for the blast that shook Grant Street. Witnesses, including Austin Fairbanks, who was visiting from Mount Pocono, described the sudden and disorienting force of the explosion. "The initial explosion was like — it just shook everything."
Traffic was restricted on Grant Street between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue as emergency services responded to the incident. While the westbound lane reopened after a few hours, eastbound lanes remained closed as crews worked to repair the damage. Pittsburgh's Public Safety Director, Lee Schmidt, confirmed no injuries. However, TribLIVE reported that the initial blast was felt as far as a block away at the Allegheny County Courthouse.
While repairs are underway, Grant Street has been partially reopened, with outbound traffic toward the Strip District flowing in at least one lane as of last night. However, the timeline for the full reopening of the road remained unclear. Amidst the unfolding situation, residents and workers in the area were urged to exercise caution around other manhole covers. However, no additional incidents were reported following the initial blast, according to TribLIVE.
