Another commute question: from Mt. Lebo to North Shore, give me the backroads! (Pittsburgh: construction, live in)

[ashpenni]

Thanks for everyone's help and advice on the commute from Mt. Lebo to Aspinwall. I actually tried the commute today in morning rush hour traffic and I literally sat on Banksville Rd for 35 minutes before even getting to 376 to sit in the tunnel traffic. I'm assuming this was normal/typical Banksville traffic as I did not see any accidents. So with that knowledge and the fact that 28 will be undergoing construction beginning this spring, I declined the job in Aspinwall. When I did so...I was asked if a drive to the North Shore would make a difference, as they may have an opening in the DelMonte building for me.

This would cut out the entire Rte 28 commute...and I could probably deal with sitting on Banksville for 30 minutes if the DelMonte building was the farthest I'd have to go outside the Fort Pitt tunnel.

BUT...I'm betting that some of you know a better way than Banksville to the Fort Pitt Tunnel to the North Shore. What are the backroads? Is there a better way?

Thanks everyone!

[fleetiebelle]

I'm betting that some of you know a better way than Banksville to the Fort Pitt Tunnel to the North Shore. What are the backroads? Is there a better way?

A good way is to cut through Dormont/Beechview to Crane Ave, take that down to 51, where your options are to a) go through the Liberty Tunnel across the bridge to Crosstown Blvd, b) cut up and over Mt. Washington, avoiding the Liberty Tunnel but still making it to the Liberty Bridge, c) or taking 51 to the West End bridge.

You don't really want to go through the Ft. Pitt Tunnel at all during rush hour. I live in Beechview, and all the Google maps directions tell me that's the best way to go to work, but I only do Ft. Pitt late at night and on weekends. I did actually go that way yesterday because MLK day traffic was so light, but that's an exception.

[Renaldo5000]

Oh man....coming anywhere south of the city to the north of the city is hell in the morning rush hour. Have you considered coming the backway into the South Side, cutting through the Hill District, going down through the Strip, and then crossing 16th street bridge? You won't hardly see any traffic that way.

P.S. You can get to Aspinwall by ways other than 28. You could try to squirt through East Liberty and Highland Park and then go over the Highland Park bridge. Also, 28 is usually packed southbound in the morning and northbound in the evening. You would be doing the exact opposite, so maybe it wouldn't be bad (but it probably still would be). However, I learned to avoid Route 28, downtown, and 376 from 6-8 AM and 4-6PM LOOOONNNGG ago.

[Renaldo5000]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

You don't really want to go through the Ft. Pitt Tunnel at all during rush hour.

Haha, no ****. An elderly woman with a walker would get to work faster than an automobile-bound person sitting in Ft. Pitt tunnel traffic.

[Renaldo5000]

Oh, another possibility: Liberty tubes, down to Carson Street, over 10th street bridge, and past the arena. From there you can hit 28 directly or worm your way onto the North Shore.

[Renaldo5000]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

taking 51 to the West End bridge.

West End bridge is a friggin' nightmare to navigate...especially for a Pittsburgh novice. That big horseshoe multi-lane thing it has at the end where cars are darting in and out all over the place is enough to make most people's heads spin.

[Hopes]

I don't understand why you would go through the Ft Pitt Tunnels when the Liberty Tubes are closer to Mt. Lebanon. Either way, you're going to have some backup at a tunnel. The only other way is through the West End but there is still a small 'tunnel' and it can get backed up. Plus that way has you commuting quite a distance (crossing over the Parkway West) to get to the West End. It only makes sense that you use the Liberty Tubes. The main problem is that you can't get off 579 in the Northside. You'll need to get off 579 at a downtown exit and cross through downtown across the 9th, 7th or 6th street bridges---whichever one you is most convenient to your job. If you go through the Liberty Tubes, there's just no reason to get off in Southside unless you want to go across the Smithfield Street Bridge and cut through downtown that way.

[Renaldo5000]

Originally Posted by Hopes

The main problem is that you can't get off 579 in the Northside. You'll need to get off 579 at a downtown exit and cross through downtown across the 9th, 7th or 6th street bridges---whichever one you is most convenient to your job.

The Del Monte plant is right next to 16th street bridge (I think). That's why I suggested cutting through South Side, going past the Arena, heading down into the Strip (through Polish Hill), and over the 16th.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

A good way is to cut through Dormont/Beechview to Crane Ave, take that down to 51, where your options are to a) go through the Liberty Tunnel across the bridge to Crosstown Blvd, b) cut up and over Mt. Washington, avoiding the Liberty Tunnel but still making it to the Liberty Bridge, c) or taking 51 to the West End bridge.

You don't really want to go through the Ft. Pitt Tunnel at all during rush hour. I live in Beechview, and all the Google maps directions tell me that's the best way to go to work, but I only do Ft. Pitt late at night and on weekends. I did actually go that way yesterday because MLK day traffic was so light, but that's an exception.

OK< that's it, quit giving away that short cut!!!

[greg42]

Originally Posted by iwonderwhy2124

The Del Monte plant is right next to 16th street bridge (I think). That's why I suggested cutting through South Side, going past the Arena, heading down into the Strip (through Polish Hill), and over the 16th.

No no no. Del Monte Building. This is right next to Heinz Field! I can see it from here! So to me the West End is the obvious choice. If you get on the Liberty Bridge you have to either go through downtown or, hm, go through downtown, LOL. Going through downtown at rush hour is not really the most advisable thing either.

I'm not hugely familiar with the roads, having driven it only a few times, but I think the Crane Ave route to 51 makes sense. Then you turn left and take 51 all the way through to the West End, go over the West End bridge, and take that first ramp that goes down onto Reedsdale St. Gotta be better than sitting in the Banksville traffic.

The sole other option that makes sense to me is to take the Liberty Tubes and go right at the end making your way to Carson St where you would make a left. But then I would still take the West End Bridge, not the Smithfield St.

If the OP got it wrong and it is the plant, maybe cutting through downtown would make more sense. But otherwise no.