Liberty Avenue Ramp to Ft Pitt Bridge (Pittsburgh, Lebanon: casino, dangerous) - Pennsylvania (PA) - City-Data Forum

BurghBlonde · 09-23-2011, 05:52 AM

I drive from Route 28 to the Ft Pitt Bridge daily, and I'm wondering if I'm the only person that feels that there should be more enforcement or some sort of traffic "aid" on the bridge, specifically regarding the center ramp that comes from Liberty Avenue onto the bridge. I try to move to the very right lane to avoid merging with that ramp because it's so incredibly dangerous. Vehicles form two lanes even though it's only one, and there's a STOP sign at the end of the ramp. I find there's a great deal of chaos trying to maneuver from my lane, to merge with that ramp with two cars in one lane going in different directions and often not stopping. I've never once seen a cop in this area, but there's a homeless man that stands right at that ramp. I'd gladly pay him to be a traffic director

But seriously, I do sometimes avoid it by getting over to the very right lane and bypassing it, but sometimes it's just very difficult to get over when traffic his bumper to bumper. I've tried the West End Bridge, but that seems slower. I just don't want to continue fighting that daily with the risk of being hit. I just think this area calls for some attention.

Burghgirl17 · 09-23-2011, 06:23 AM

It's even more fun when buses are involved.

But I totally agree. It's a mess. I avoid it at all costs.

BurghBlonde · 09-23-2011, 06:29 AM

EXACTLY!!!!!! I couldn't agree more Burghgirl17! Probably my biggest pet peeve. Why are they immune to the traffic laws? I agree we need more mass transit, but I don't agree with being able to do what they want because they have a big bus.

I_Like_Spam · 09-23-2011, 06:33 AM

Its been a mess on the Fort Pitt ramps since at least the 1970's, and they have changed things around from time to time.

But nothing really seems to help.

I suppose the upgrades on the West End Circle might be helping to divert some of that traffic, but the western suburbs are really getting a lot more business and residences nowadays than they did 30-40 years ago, increasing traffic even more through the Fort Pitts.

Its just too much traffic going through a very narrow opening, maybe its time to consider a new hole in Mt. Washington to help facilitate traffic.

gg · 09-23-2011, 06:39 AM

I find that area pretty fun. I tell people coming from 28 going to the airport, "remember, when you get off 28 and get on the ramp to 279S, you want to keep, left, left, left and then when going past the casino you want to keep right, right, right and then when you hit the Ft. Pitt Bridge, you want to get, left, left, left. lol It is a wild ride. Glad I have a European Sports Sedan to navigate it. I would hate it if I was driving a big box on wheels, you might flip over into the river. lol

Would I change anything on that road? NO! If you put some traffic light or whatever, it would be way too slow!

greg42 · 09-23-2011, 07:34 AM

The most recent alignment definitely seems to have made it worse for the people trying to get on at that ramp. In fact, last time I had to go that way from downtown, I thought about it for a minute, then went the Stanwix St ramp instead. This is FAR easier than the Liberty Ave ramp if you are leaving downtown for the Ft Pitt Tunnel. The Stanwix ramp dumps you out from the LEFT into the 376 traffic, perfect for getting through the tunnel! I think some days you could save 10 minutes just by choosing that ramp instead.

For those who are coming through from the Ft Duquesne to Ft Pitt and trying to get the tunnel (as the OP is talking about), it pretty much sucks. There will always be traffic pulling out of there. There's a stop sign, of course, but you can wait for a long time even for a tiny little break so people will be coming out. And the bridge doesn't give you much time for merging. I'd be tempted to take the West End myself, although I'm sure it's slower.

You can't really change the controls on it. The only changes that would truly make a difference would be changes to the ramp/bridge/tunnel configuration somehow.

youngabe · 09-23-2011, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burghgirl17

It's even more fun when buses are involved.

But I totally agree. It's a mess. I avoid it at all costs.

Funny you should mention busses and this particular stretch of road. See a thread I started in February!

Port Authority Buses & Their Driving

Luckily, I've since moved to Mt. Washington and no longer travel that stretch daily, but I do, the horn is still typically involved. I'm ASTONISHED that there aren't many more accidents daily. Maybe Pittsburgh drivers aren't as bad as we think they are...

BurghBlonde · 09-23-2011, 08:11 AM

Yesssssss!!!!! Love it, youngabe! I've seriously considered using my iphone as a dashcam to record these buses pushing their way through.

As most everyone has pointed out, I do try to get into the right lane, but at 5:20 PM, it's pretty hard to get over when traffic is already backed up and you can't just move into the lane without someone letting you over.

Yesterday there was a Super Shuttle van who was in his own made-up right lane on the Liberty Ave ramp who wouldn't let me in after I let the person in front of him go. I pushed through, and then he's yelling something at me. I yelled back, "YOU HAVE A STOP SIGN!!!!!!!!!!" What's worse is he only got over towards the West End exit lane just to bypass everyone and get back over through the Ft. Pitt Tunnels. I thought for sure he was going to hit me. I got his van # to report him to the company. Not sure if they care as long as he got his passengers to the airport on time.

greg42 · 09-23-2011, 08:44 AM

Sometimes the stress of that isn't worth it. Where is your ultimate destination? Maybe you should try a non-Parkway route through Crafton or something. Or at least use the West End Bridge and completely avoid that ramp.

BurghBlonde · 09-23-2011, 08:53 AM

I have my moments, greg42. And when I do, I decide based on my mood and my workday on which route I'll take. Wednesday I decided to go the West End Bridge to Steuben Street. But not sure where it's best to turn off of Steuben. Greentree Road's lights make it a bad option, so I tried going all the way out to the road that takes you past Chartiers CC and through Roslyn Farms and then through Carnegie. I was kicking myself after I did it because it was so slow. My ultimate destination is Mt. Lebanon, near Cedarhurst. Just have yet to find something quicker than Ft. Pitt tunnels to Banksville. But if there's another way, I'm all ears. I'd gladly go out of my way to avoid it if something else was comparable.