PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists southbound Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) approaching the inbound (southbound) Fort Duquesne Bridge (I-279) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will be closed long-term beginning on Monday, June 7.

All lanes on southbound Route 65 and the ramps from Allegheny Avenue, Ridge Avenue and Reedsdale Street will be closed. The long-term closure will begin at 5 a.m. on Monday and continue around-the-clock through 7 p.m. on June 15. Crews will be milling, conducting hydro-demolition, and placing a new latex overlay on the ramp and portions of the lower Fort Duquesne Bridge deck. Signs will be posted to guide motorists during the closure. Traffic will be detoured using the West End Bridge to Saw Mill Run Boulevard (Route 51/19) to the inbound Parkway West (I-376).

Note: Motorists leaving the Pirates make-up game Monday afternoon will be required to follow the detour on Western Avenue.

In addition, a single lane closure will occur next week on southbound (inbound) I-279 (Parkway North) approaching the Fort Duquesne Bridge on Thursday and Friday nights, June 10-11. The right lane will be closed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. both nights.

The $23.3 million Fort Duquesne Bridge Preservation Project includes improvements on 16 bridge and ramp structures interchanging with the Fort Duquesne Bridge. Work includes latex overlays, spot/zone painting, steel repairs, expansion dam replacements, concrete deck and substructure repairs, resetting rocker bearings, signing and pavement markings, and other miscellaneous improvements. The prime contractor for the project is the Trumbull Corporation of Pittsburgh. Construction will conclude in fall 2010.