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Better lighting, sidewalk bump-outs planned

The problem has been apparent for several years: East Carson Street in Pittsburgh’s South Side regularly leads the list of the most dangerous areas in the region for pedestrians.

Now, after years of planning, two major projects designed to make the street safer for daytime businesses and nighttime entertainment spots will move ahead beginning this month.

The first project by the city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, scheduled to begin March 18, will install lower, pedestrian lights in the main business corridor between South 10th and South 25th streets. That work, which will last through October, will include new sidewalk trees between 17th and 25th streets and flowering baskets from 10th to 17th streets, all at a cost of $3 million.

Later this spring, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will begin a repaving and pedestrian safety project between the Smithfield Street Bridge and South 33rd Street. That estimated $17 million project also will include 11 new traffic signals, bump-outs to reduce the street-crossing distance at intersections from South Seventh to South 26th streets, and wider, better marked crosswalks throughout.

Contractors on both projects will do their best to work around busy daytime businesses and busier restaurants and bars at night. The South Side Chamber of Commerce said the inconvenience of the work will be worthwhile when it’s done.

“I think as long as people work with the city and the state, things will work out and we’ll get this done right,” chamber president Mark Bucklaw said. “Just be patient. At the end, we all feel this is going to serve the greater good.”

The projects are being timed so that the paving contractor, who