The Department of Public Works announced today that part of I-279 northbound and southbound in Pittsburgh, Ross, and Ohio Township – along with the interstate’s High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes – will be fully closed overnight periodically starting on Monday, June 15, 2026. The closures, which are expected to end in August 2026, are required to demolish Jacks Run Bridge No. 3. The bridge carries Jacks Run Road over I-279 between Bellevue Road/Bellpark Drive and Kane Lane in Ross.
I-279 northbound will be closed between the McKnight Road/Evergreen Road exit ramp (Exit 4) and the I-279 North entrance ramp from Camp Horne Road. I-279 southbound will be closed between the Camp Horne Road exit ramp (Exit 8) and the I-279 South entrance ramp from McKnight Road.
The I-279 northbound, southbound, and HOV closures will periodically occur during the following times:
- 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday-Friday
- 9 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday
- 9 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday
I-279 northbound will be detoured using McKnight Road, Babcock Boulevard, Rochester Road, Lowries Run Road, and Camp Horne Road. I-279 southbound traffic will be detoured using the same route in reverse.
I-279 southbound traffic to Union Avenue in Ross will be detoured using Camp Horne Road, Lowries Run Road, Rochester Road, Perry Highway, Highland Avenue, and Gass Road. Union Avenue traffic to I-279 northbound will be detoured using the same route in reverse.
I-279 southbound traffic to Cemetery Lane in Ross will be detoured using Camp Horne Road, Lowries Run Road, Rochester Road, Perry Highway. Cemetery Lane traffic to I-279 northbound will be detoured using the same route in reverse.
When I-279 is not fully closed, there will be the following traffic restrictions:
- Periodic single-lane closures on I-279 northbound and southbound under the bridge between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily through the remainder of the project, except from Sunday, May 31 through Friday, June 6, when lane closures will end at 3 p.m.
- From Sunday, May 31 through Friday, June 5, the I-279 HOV lanes will close in the outbound (northbound) direction each night from 7 p.m. until the directional switch is made for the morning rush hour at 6 a.m.
- The I-279 northbound on-ramp from Cemetery Lane will be closed periodically between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily from Friday, June 5 through the remainder of the project. Traffic will be detoured using Perry Highway, Rochester Road, Lowries Run Road, and Camp Horne Road.
I-279 and the HOV lanes are maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The section of I-279 near Jacks Run Bridge No. 3 is used by an average of 73,367 vehicles daily.
Swank Construction Company of New Kensington is the primary construction contractor for the $2.8 million project, which began on April 27, 2026. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is funding the entire project, and PennDOT is overseeing the federal funding.
Public Works closed Jacks Run Bridge No. 3 on July 3, 2025 to ensure driver safety after inspectors found corroded steel within the bridge’s only pier. Prior to its closure, Jacks Run Bridge No. 3 was used by an average of 4,631 vehicles daily. Construction of a new Jacks Run Bridge No. 3, which will be a separate project, is expected to start next year.