Lily Coleman

The new Commercial Street Bridge is nearly complete. Next comes the biggest step: demolishing the old span and sliding a 22-million-pound replacement into position.

PennDOT officials say this method helps reduce the overall traffic disruptions while streamlining the closure process

Before Pittsburgh’s new Commercial Street Bridge can slide into place, crews must demolish the old one that includes a planned controlled explosion.

The old Commercial Street Bridge will come down behind an 800-foot safety perimeter, but PennDOT has discussed a potential livestream to watch the project.

PennDOT officials say multiple safeguards are in place to ensure the new bridge is not damaged by the ongoing construction work during the Parkway East closure.

With the Parkway East closure just weeks away, PennDOT is assuring residents that the planned bridge demolition blast has been engineered to avoid affecting nearby homes.

376 BRIDGE CLOSURE: Demolition work will happen before and after the controlled blast needed to bring down the old bridge on Parkway East.

The roadway reopened around 7 a.m.

376 BRIDGE CLOSURE: Many viewers are asking about the "watering" of the new Parkway East bridge. Here's the explanation for the "sprinklers."