05/27/2026
With weeks remaining before the July bridge slide, significant progress is taking shape at the I-376 Commercial Street Bridge Replacement project in Pittsburgh as the new bridge deck continues to come to life.
Fay crews are currently pouring the bridge deck in alternating sections, a carefully planned process that allows the concrete adequate time to properly cure and gain strength before adjacent sections are placed. Bridge decks are rarely poured all at once. Phased pours help control shrinkage cracking, reduce thermal stress, manage hydration heat, limit loading on the structure during curing, and maintain safe access for crews and equipment throughout construction.
Bridge deck concrete must meet strict durability requirements, so crews carefully monitor slump, air content, temperature, and placement rates during each pour. Once placed, vi*****rs consolidate the concrete around reinforcing steel while screed machines level the surface. Finishers then texture the deck to provide skid resistance in accordance with DOT specifications.
Concrete cures through a chemical hydration process that is critical to long-term durability and performance. Proper curing helps prevent cracking, improves strength, and protects the deck against freeze-thaw cycles and salt intrusion for years to come.
To support this process, crews use controlled curing methods including wet burlap, cure blankets, continuous water curing, and membrane curing compounds while monitoring temperatures and strength development throughout the operation.
Every phase brings the project one step closer to the upcoming bridge slide and the long-term improvements this infrastructure investment will deliver for the region.
Explore project details for : https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/projects-near-you/district-11-projects/commercial-street-bridge-replacement?fbclid=IwY2xjawRdoSpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF5ckZzTEQxMVN1bXZhS3Bic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnuMJj4pi9pfWznhgoYbFRfusBehHLlOml4o8wdAGrkbe2HQOYvZ6yfASeZU_aem_3zi4xGnbLWwi3TjztCb7pw