About the Project

Work on the Panhandle Bridge includes:

  • Steel and Concrete Rehabilitation
  • New Lighting for Navigation
  • New Service Walkway Lighting
  • New Dynamic Decorative Lighting
  • Bridge Steel Painting
  • Stone Masonry Pier Rehabilitation
  • Rail and Overhead Catenary Replacement
  • Temporary Traffic Control

Work is anticipated to take 32 months and cost $58 million.

Update

March 2026: PRT's Board authorized the award of the contract to Mosites Construction Company.

Project Location

​Project Map

Built in 1902 to carry heavy rail traffic across the Monongahela River, the Panhandle Bridge was acquired by PRT in the 1980s. In 1984, the bridge was converted for light rail use.

This rehabilitation and restoration project is intended to further extend Panhandle's lifespan, ensuring the light rail system provides safe, reliable transit service to Downtown for future generations.

PRT is engaging with the following partners during design and construction:

  • City of Pittsburgh
  • PennDOT
  • Norfolk Southern Railroad
  • CSX Railroad
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Coast Guard

Anticipated Construction Value: $58M

Impacts are anticipated to begin in Spring of 2027:
  • Single-track light rail service between Station Square and First Avenue Stations, with various bus and potential rail detours
  • Periodic Weekend Closures with bus shuttle service


For detour and delay information: https://www.rideprt.org/Detours/

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Alternatives Analysis

    January 2019 - March 2021

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Design

    April 2021 - August 2025

  • Timeline item 3 - active

    Notice to Proceed Issued

    Spring 2026

  • Timeline item 4 - incomplete

    Construction Preparations

    December 2026

  • Timeline item 5 - incomplete

    Construction Phase 1

    January – December 2027

    • Work will be conducted on the outbound trackway and portion of the bridge structure

    During both construction phases, light rail traffic will be reduced to travel in one-direction at a time. See "Anticipated Service Impacts" for more information

  • Timeline item 6 - incomplete

    Construction Phase 2

    January – December 2028

    • Work will be conducted on the inbound trackway and portion of the bridge structure
    • Overhead Catenary System replacement on both inbound and outbound trackway

  • Timeline item 7 - incomplete

    Construction Substantially Complete

    Early 2029