I-376 Parkway East bridge demolished in Pittsburgh

The old Parkway East bridge is no more. The bridge was taken down with a controlled blast that reduced it to rubble Thursday morning.BRIDGE DEMOLITION: Watch a replay of the big boom in the video aboveDemolition of the Commercial Street Bridge on Interstate 376 was originally scheduled to occur Wednesday evening, but PennDOT said that was postponed while the contractor continued safety preparations.After debris is cleared from the area, construction crews will slide a new bridge onto the existing alignment of I-376 between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale interchange. PennDOT officials said the project will be one of the largest lateral slide projects in Pennsylvania.According to Historic Pittsburgh, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Library System, the current bridge (known as the Commercial Street Bridge) began construction in April 1948. The bridge was completed in April 1951.The old bridge has three arches with a length of 170 feet each and 12 approach spans at a length of 28 feet each. The total length of the bridge, including the longest elevated ramp, was 846 feet, and the deck had a clearance of 85 feet at the arch and a width of 68 feet.Interstate 376 remains closed between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale interchange. The closure is currently scheduled to continue through Aug. 3.Interstate detour westboundFrom westbound (inbound) I-376, take Exit 78B (Wilkinsburg) toward PA 8 northMerge onto Route 8 (Ardmore Boulevard)Continue straight onto Route 8 (Penn Avenue)Turn left onto Fifth AvenueAfter going through Oakland, take the ramp to the left for westbound I-376. Use caution for opposing trafficMerge onto the Boulevard of the Allies and stay in the right lane to merge onto westbound I-376 toward downtown/Fort Pitt BridgeContinue straight to merge onto westbound (inbound) I-376Interstate detour eastboundFrom eastbound (outbound) I-376, take Exit 72A (Forbes Avenue/Oakland)Merge onto Forbes AvenueTurn left onto South Bellefield AvenueTurn right onto Fifth AvenueTurn right onto Route 8 (Penn Avenue)Bear right to continue on Route 8 (Ardmore Boulevard)Take the ramp to 376/22/30 toward Pittsburgh/MonroevilleAt the split, bear left to eastbound 376/22 toward MonroevilleMerge onto eastbound (outbound) I-376Local detour westboundFrom westbound (inbound) I-376, take Exit 77 (Edgewood/Swissvale)At the end of the ramp, turn left onto South Braddock AvenueContinue onto the Rankin BridgeTurn right onto Route 837 (River Road)Continue onto Route 837 (Eighth Avenue)Turn right onto the Homestead Grays BridgeContinue onto Browns Hill RoadContinue straight onto Beechwood BoulevardFollow signs for westbound I-376 toward PittsburghTake the ramp to westbound I-376 toward PittsburghLocal detour eastboundFrom eastbound (outbound) I-376, take Exit 74A (Squirrel Hill/Homestead), continuing straight onto Beechwood Boulevard toward HomesteadContinue straight onto Browns Hill RoadContinue onto the Homestead Grays BridgeTurn left onto Route 837 (Eighth Avenue)Continue straight on Route 837 (River Road)Turn left onto the Rankin BridgeContinue onto South Braddock AvenueBear right to merge onto eastbound I-376 toward MonroevilleDownload the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.