Pittsburgh is on the verge of a major infrastructure facelift

Pittsburgh is on the verge of a major infrastructure facelift

2022-07-13T09:38:23-04:00December 15th, 2021|Economy, Pittsburgh|

Writer: Caty Hirst

Pittsburgh infrastructure2 min read December 2021 Pittsburgh — one of the oldest cities in the nation — is on the verge of a facelift, as city and state officials quickly work to solidify priorities for their portion of the $1.2 trillion in federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden in November. 

Nationally, funds will address critical infrastructure needs ranging from broadband access and electric grid renewal to clean water and basic transportation needs.  In Pittsburgh, key projects are ready to go ahead, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has an 11-page document listing priority projects for the state once the state’s $18 million from the infrastructure bill is in the bank. Top priorities for the region include extending the East Busway to East Pittsburgh, and potentially even to Monroeville; widening Bates Street; upgrades to the McKees Rocks Bridge; and replacing bridges on the Parkway East, according to local news reports. 

“It’s no secret that the infrastructure in town and in the region needs major investment and upgrades. Stakeholders and owners of the infrastructure are all trying really hard to make efficient use of the dollars they have, but it’s not nearly enough relative to the current state of infrastructure and the growth of the region,” said Justin Fox, vice president of Pittsburgh Independence Excavating, Inc in an interview with Invest

In addition to the funds earmarked for the state, another $100 billion in federal funds is up for grabs in a competitive bidding process, with the area likely to bid for federal dollars in autonomous vehicle manufacturing, lock and dam upgrades and local battery manufacturing, according to CBS Pittsburgh. 

Other notable infrastructure projects for the area include expanding the Beltway at the interchange at I-79 near the Allegheny/Washington County Line to approximately 12.5 miles eastward and breaking ground on construction of a new $1.4 billion terminal at the Pittsburgh International Airport, among the first to be constructed in a post-pandemic world, according to a press release. The new airport terminal is on track to be one of the most sustainable in the industry, and will also feature innovative indoor/outdoor spaces, both before and after security, to ensure access to fresh air and will incorporate new clean air technology.

PennDOT has also launched the Major Bridge P3 Initiative, an effort to secure sustainable funding to renovate bridge rehabilitation and replacement through tolling. According to PennDot, for every $1 billion in new bridges or bridge rehabilitation, 10,493 jobs are created and $2.2 billion is generated. Top priorities for bridge projects include I-81 Susquehanna Project, built in 1961; I-80 Nescopeck Creek Bridges, built in 1965; I-78 Lenhartsville Bridge Replacement Project, built in 1955; and the I-83 South Bridge Project, built in 1960. 

Fox said his outlook for the construction industry in Pittsburgh is positive, and not just because of the federal infrastructure bill. 

“The infrastructure bill has passed, and construction is poised to boom. Even without the infrastructure bill, I would be bullish on Pittsburgh with so much grassroots excitement and economic vibrancy here. There has to be an investment in public infrastructure one way or another, and beyond that, there is always good private investment happening in Pittsburgh. Just in the 10 years I’ve been here, I’ve been blown away by the expansion of the major hospital networks, the universities and the Downtown area,” Fox said to Invest:. 

Still, the city has some catching up to do, said Sharon Novak, CEO, Shikun & Binui USA (S&B USA) told Invest:. 

“In the infrastructure area, the city is still behind and trying to catch up. Many of the challenges are financial, but there is a lot of potential here. Part of the solution can be through stronger cooperation with the private sector on one end and at the state and federal level on the other end. Hopefully, the infrastructure bill will open new options for the city,” Novak said. 

Share This Story!