Mike Carroll confirms the Parkway East will reopen Monday evening ahead of schedule after the Commercial Street Bridge replacement.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) confirmed that the Parkway East (Interstate 376) will reopen on Monday evening, July 27. This reopening occurs more than a week ahead of the original schedule, which was set for August 3. The project involved replacing the old Commercial Street Bridge with a new 22-million-pound structure, a process that required crews to work 24 hours a day to meet the deadline. Mike Carroll, the PennDOT Secretary, noted that officials were striving for an early completion. Contractors are eligible for a $2 million bonus if the project is finished before July 28. While the closure impacted approximately 100,000 cars daily, traffic impacts remained minimal during the detours. Residents and commuters expressed a mix of relief and amazement at the quick turnaround. While the Parkway East opens Monday, the Commercial Street/Forward Avenue closure will remain in which crews continue cleanup work until early next month.