Update: Final Design Completed For City Vertical Clearance Project

Published on January 03, 2025

UPDATE: FINAL DESIGN COMPLETED FOR PITTSBURGH VERTICAL CLEARANCE PROJECTS 

Final Design Presentation Available for Public Viewing  

PITTSBURGH – The Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSRC), along with Michael Baker International, has completed the final design for the series of bridge projects known as the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects (PVC). The PVC projects, done in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the City of Pittsburgh, aim to eliminate vertical clearance limitations by rebuilding new roadway bridges spanning the Norfolk Southern train tracks within the city.  

The PVC projects will include the Pittsburgh Amtrak Station, West North Avenue Bridge, Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge, and the Allegheny Commons Pedestrian Bridge. The scope of this project will include work limited to these areas and will no longer include the Columbus Avenue Track Lowering Project, which will be completed as a separate project. This work will be done on behalf of the NSRC with funding from PennDOT. 

While details about construction are not yet available, the City of Pittsburgh will work closely with the Norfolk Southern Rail Company to minimize the impact of these projects on residents. Once completed, the bridges in Pittsburgh’s Northside will be dedicated to the City of Pittsburgh and become city assets.  

To view the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects final design presentation, kindly visit the Norfolk Southern Project Page and navigate to “An Open Process: Meeting with the Community,” the presentation will be available until January 30, 2025. 

Cydney Cooper
Interim Communications Director

Mayors Office
cydney.cooper@pittsburghpa.gov
 412-518-5047