The Department of Public Works announced today that part of Universal Road near Hershey Road in Penn Hills will close starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 13, 2026. The closure is expected to end in October. It is required for work on Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Bridge No. 1, which carries Universal Road over Union Railroad tracks. The project includes deck, approach, sidewalk, and barrier repairs; the cleaning and painting of structural steel; and downspout cleaning.
Traffic will be detoured using Saltsburg Road and Stotler Road. Homes and businesses near the closure area will be accessible at all times.
Pugliano Construction of Plum is the primary construction contractor for the $514,000 project.
Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Bridge No. 1 is used by an average of 9,286 vehicles daily. It has a bridge condition rating of 3 (poor condition) on a 0-9 scale based on National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) established by the Federal Highway Administration. For more information about bridge condition ratings, visit https://alleghenycounty.us/bridges.