description Squirrel Hill Tunnel Overview
The Squirrel Hill Tunnel is a pair of highway tunnels in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, opened in 1953. It carries Interstate 376 through the Squirrel Hill neighborhood beneath a residential ridge. The tunnels are major infrastructure on the Parkway East and were later retrofitted with ceiling removal to accommodate larger vehicles.
help Squirrel Hill Tunnel FAQ
Where is the Squirrel Hill Tunnel?
It carries Interstate 376, known locally as the Parkway East, beneath Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. The tunnel opened to traffic on 5 June 1953. [Pennsylvania Highways](https://www.pahighways.com/interstates/I376.html)
Is the Squirrel Hill Tunnel one bore or two?
It is a pair of highway tunnels, with separate eastbound and westbound tubes carrying I-376. The tunnel inventory identifies each direction as its own two-lane structure. [FHWA](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/inspection/tunnel/inventory/preliminary.cfm)
Why does traffic back up near the Squirrel Hill Tunnel?
The tunnel sits beside a complex interchange where ramps, neighborhood streets, and Parkway East traffic converge. PennDOT's current redesign changes the ramps but explicitly does not add capacity inside the tunnel. [PennDOT](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/projects-near-you/district-11-projects/squirrel-hill-interchange-project)
What safety equipment has been upgraded in the Squirrel Hill Tunnel?
Rehabilitation work has included ventilation, new lighting, communication equipment, fire extinguishers, exit signs, cross-passage doors, over-height truck detection, and spill containment. These systems support the two I-376 tunnel tubes rather than expanding their basic lane count. [PennDOT](https://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/Districts/District11/internet/SR376_SquirrelHillTunnel/SquirrelHillTunnels_HistoryandSummaryofWork.pdf)
explore Explore More
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
