Repairs near Mount Washington transit tunnel to delay buses, light rail

Port Authority bus and light-rail commuters whose vehicles use the Mount Washington transit tunnel to the South Side will face some disruptions Tuesday after inspectors found two small cracks in tracks near the entrance to the tunnel closest to South Hills Junction.

Authority spokesman Adam Brandolph said a section of track was closed about 10:30 a.m. Monday after cracks were found on the outbound tracks during an inspection earlier in the morning. Commuters heading inbound to Pittsburgh will be rerouted through Allentown so outbound lightrail vehicles can use the inbound tracks from Station Square. Outbound buses will use the Wabash Tunnel, which likely will not be available for inbound traffic Tuesday morning.

As a result, inbound commuters should expect delays of 10 to 15 minutes.

Port Authority crews will make repairs, Mr. Brandolph said, but the work may not be finished until after Tuesday’s morning rush hour.

Riders heading outbound from the station at Station Square should board buses and light-rail vehicles on the inbound side of the platform.

Riders facing the most disruption may be those who want to ride inbound to Downtown Pittsburgh from Station Square. If they want to take light rail, they should ride outbound to South Hills Junction and transfer to an inbound train that will go through Allentown.

Or they can board a bus at the stop across from the station at Station Square, at East Carson Street and the Smithfield Street Bridge, and ride into Downtown.