Early this morning, a vehicle fire prompted the closure of outbound lanes on the Parkway East, impacting the morning commute for many Pittsburgh residents; the lanes were shut down near the Hot Metal Bridge and between the Oakland exit and the Squirrel Hill Tunnel.
According to reports by WPXI, the vehicle fire resulted in a total shutdown of the outbound lanes at the Bates Street on-ramp, traffic was directed to exit at Oakland/Forbes Avenue (Exit 72A) and although it’s unknown at this time if there were any injuries officials from PennDOT have instituted detours to manage traffic — for those on the Parkway West the detour begins at the Grant Street exit, while traffic from Parkway North continues to reroute at Oakland/Forbes Avenue exit.
Drone footage captured by CBS News showed two vehicles blocking the highway, with one emitting heavy smoke, after the incident, which unfolded around 5:30 a.m., causing disruptions as emergency crews swiftly responded to the scene and commuters were faced with delays.
While the specific circumstances leading to the fire remain unclear, as well as the duration of the road closure, authorities are working diligently to manage the situation and ensure the safety of travelers.
