Motorists faced traffic delays on Saturday afternoon, the first day of the Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge closure.
The 2,000-foot-long truss bridge will undergo repairs until November. Authorities have urged motorists to use the Sewickley Bridge to the south, about an 11-mile detour.
Motorists driving from University Boulevard in Moon to Route 65 in Sewickley backed up the length of the bridge yesterday afternoon.
That's a common sight during the weekday morning and evening rush hour, but a rarity on a weekend. Authorities warned of lengthy traffic delays during peak travel periods.
Authorities said the Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge is one of the most poorly rated bridges in the state and in dire need of repair.
The bridge, which has a 17-ton weight limit, was built in 1927 and carries about 22,500 vehicles each day, connecting Route 51 in Aliquippa and Ambridge with Route 65.
Workers will spend $16.6 million to renovate the bridge, including deck, sidewalk, pavement and steel repairs, and repaint the span. The work will stop in November, then resume again next spring.
Motorists can also use the East Rochester-Monaca Bridge to the north, about a 16-mile detour, though traffic is not expected to be as congested as on the Sewickley Bridge.
The East Rochester span carries 15,500 vehicles a day, and the Sewickley Bridge carries about 19,000.
