The 28th Street Bridge is restricted to inbound, downhill vehicle traffic under a city-announced lane configuration that began Tuesday, November 3. Drivers heading outbound and uphill must take a detour, and pedestrians must use the northern sidewalk.
The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure announced the restriction November 2 following an inspection coordinated with PennDOT. This November 5 notice explains the published travel arrangements; it does not report a new inspection or a reopening.
Which direction remains open
The official city announcement describes a long-term single lane for inbound, downhill traffic. It says that arrangement preserves inbound bus service and emergency-vehicle access. The outbound, uphill lane is closed.
For drivers traveling outbound, the city’s signed detour follows Liberty Avenue to Bigelow Boulevard, using the Bloomfield Bridge to reach Paulowna Street. Follow the posted detour signs rather than assuming traffic is alternating across the remaining bridge lane. The announcement describes one-way inbound use, not alternating two-way operation.
Check the direction of each leg of a trip. A route that works for an inbound journey may not be available for the return uphill. The city has not supplied a guaranteed detour travel time, so this notice does not estimate a particular delay.
Sidewalk and bus arrangements
The southern sidewalk is also closed. The city instructs pedestrians to cross 28th Street and continue over the bridge on the northern sidewalk. Plan for that change in approach rather than arriving at the closed side expecting an uninterrupted crossing.
Outbound 54D buses have a separate alternate route using Herron Avenue. The city says Pittsburgh Regional Transit can continue serving all outbound 54D stops through that detour. Do not treat the general vehicle route as a substitute for the bus operator’s own routing instructions.
Before a bus trip, consult PRT’s current service alerts for any later adjustment. For a pickup or meeting, specify the direction and boarding or arrival point when checking a route. A bridge remaining open inbound does not establish outbound access.
Rehabilitation dates are tentative
The city says its contracted engineering team, under PennDOT oversight, is midway through final design for full bridge rehabilitation. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2028, with a full reopening in 2030. These are future project targets, not a promised end date for the current lane restriction.
The November 2 announcement provides no separate date when the outbound lane or southern sidewalk will reopen. Check subsequent city notices before changing plans. For broader condition and project information, use DOMI’s Bridge Asset Management Program page. This article summarizes official instructions and does not claim an on-site assessment of the bridge.