What happens if cars are already on the Liberty Bridge at 2 or 6pm when the lanes change? Or is there a system to make sure that never happens?

Submitted by rabid_braindeer t3_yewdso in pittsburgh

We were thinking about this the other day driving over the Liberty Bridge: what would happen if you are on the bridge when the lanes switch?

Does anyone know: do the lanes switch exactly at 2pm and 6pm, regardless of whether there are cars currently driving on it? Or is there some system for making sure the bridge is clear of traffic before the lanes switch?

I can just imagine the chaos of having the lane you are in suddenly switch to the other direction while you are driving in it. Surely there is some mechanism to make sure that doesn't happen right?

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the1999person t1_iu0du7u wrote

The middle lane opens and drops the remaining cars into the river.

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JamesLLL t1_iu21riz wrote

The Ghost of Garbage Trucks Past claims those that remain after the middle lane opens

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brownmuffalo t1_iu47ci1 wrote

Can they please implement something like this for the Fort Pitt bridge as well?

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funkyb t1_iu5eza5 wrote

And now we know why those divers found all those cars in the river. Case closed!

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mmphoto412 t1_iu0cdk7 wrote

They have a transition period for the lane which direction is changing. The lane will be marked with a X in both directions allowing the traffic to clear from the lane and adjust.

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Sankara_Connolly2020 t1_iu1hzt6 wrote

This is correct. The one thing that sucks is backup and awkward lane changing in the direction that has its lane reduced, but it’s not dangerous.

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IrrumaboMalum t1_iu2vn8m wrote

The 40th Street Bridge does this too. And I've still almost been hit by a guy who was in the middle lane after it switched to "X" for him and was showing "O" for me.

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AirtimeAficionado t1_iu09y5d wrote

There are stoplights on both sides. Stop signal for all sides occurs. Lanes switch. Problem solved.

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marco1989 t1_iu0ast9 wrote

Right, use stop lights to clear everyone off the bridge then change the signs and put up cones and stuff to redirect the new cars

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rabid_braindeer OP t1_iu0b4r6 wrote

Also, does this mean there is someone who's job it is to go out there everyday at 2pm to put up the cones, and then back at 6pm to put them back? There has to be a more efficient system than that right?

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johnsonchicklet1993 t1_iu0cbsf wrote

I always think about this lol. And why the dude who moves the cones can’t trim the tree branch down so you can tell at all that there’s a yield sign turning right off the bride up McArdle

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sj070707 t1_iu0fib6 wrote

Yep, and sometimes there's even a cop there at that point to watch for people switching lanes in the tunnel because they didn't realize.

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Laxbrotim t1_iu22z3q wrote

At the other end of the tunnel it’s pretty clearly marked when it’s a straight through lane and when you can only turn. Don’t have much sympathy for people if you’re not paying attention to road signs and then illegally try to switch lanes instead of just swallowing the consequences of your error and taking a brief detour to south side, that you’ll never make again lol. And then you get people who go in the turning lane for the sole purpose of cutting the line because it always backups on the straight through lane, can’t differentiate between them so ticket them all

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cpr4life8 t1_iu2n3ed wrote

I travel through that tunnel fairly often between the hours of 2:00 and 6:00. There are tons of people who get in that right lane and go up as far as they can before attempting to cut. I don't let them in.

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Burgherman1 t1_iu25zxn wrote

Holy shit! That's what they're doing?!? I've been wondering about that for months. I drive outbound around 2,3 and would see them and couldn't figure it out. Seriously, thanks.

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rabid_braindeer OP t1_iu0fr43 wrote

That's so shitty. I get it if someone is clearly trying to get ahead of everyone and cut in. But if someone genuinely didn't know and has to go that way, come on man.

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CARLEtheCamry t1_iu0yps8 wrote

I think it's more of "you can cause an accident, pay better attention" kind of thing.

There is a somewhat similar situation on GreenTree Rd heading into the West End. It's 2 lanes during high traffic times and the right lane at the blood bank is right-turn only. People just blast through straight in the right turn only lane often, which will cause an accident if the person in the middle (left) lane is obeying traffic signs and going straight as well.

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delValle1873 t1_iu27nnh wrote

I hate that. I can understand not knowing what lane to be in, because there’s sometimes not much time to see the lights before you have to make a choice, especially if you’re behind a truck. But for goodness sake, if you realize you have to merge, take it slow, and be prepared to stop for cars that are actually in the proper lane.

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cpr4life8 t1_iu2muqu wrote

It's pretty obvious most of the people who are doing it are doing it because they don't want to wait in line in the left lane.

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mmphoto412 t1_iu0bvvy wrote

Yes and that is the most efficient way to move a dozen cones and a sign

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rabid_braindeer OP t1_iu0cbga wrote

Nah dude I mean a more efficient system than cones. Like those gate arms at parking garages or railroad crossings. Could just set that to a timer and boom no more need to have a person physically go out and put out cones in the middle of miserable traffic.

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ihatecovid2020 t1_iu2lzsd wrote

Pittsburghers would never trust that. That is why the HOV lanes are always empty to the North Hills

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mmphoto412 t1_iu2oyl2 wrote

You wouldn’t be able to mount a fixed object like that in the middle of a traffic lane

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JAK3CAL t1_iu0n6yw wrote

Yes I’ve watched them. It’s pretty dangerous honestly

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CounterSensitive776 t1_iu1dk90 wrote

There's a maintenance team on site at all times that takes care of cones, accidents, etc. There's really not a more efficient way to do it unless we get some robots or something.

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ElectronicDiver2310 t1_iu1hebh wrote

If I am mistaken, there is a pickup track with cones and person stays on a special step and just put cones behind truck while truck is going slowly. Collection of cones is done in reverse.

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Ham_Ahoy t1_iu2hopy wrote

And I swear that guy revels in it. (I would too if I were him.)

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rabid_braindeer OP t1_iu0avno wrote

I guess they are timed long enough to make sure everyone gets off the bridge before lanes switch? Because the bridge gets really backed up at times.

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chad4359 t1_iu0b26e wrote

There is nothing quite like the dance that is the lane change when going outbound at 2 PM

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rabid_braindeer OP t1_iu0d2yz wrote

It is my least favorite dance. I always forget the steps.

Seriously though, there should be at least a spot for "oops I didn't realize this lane ended" where desperate out of towners can get back to the correct lane.

I still forget about this and have to decide split-second if I want to find a place in southside to turn around or try to merge into the other lane. Deal with southside traffic or risk getting pulled over? No good answer.

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padotim t1_iu2tor1 wrote

I only let out of state plates merge

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Pure-Landscape-1396 t1_iu0tkt5 wrote

In 1995, a Penndot worker opened both sides of an HOV lane at the same time in order to save time, and a bunch of people died. Happened here in Pittsburgh.

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rogimonster t1_iu0e87c wrote

I’ve been hosed by the sign guy more times than I can tell you at 2pm. It’s utter chaos. One time I saw him coming (he was early!) and tried to change lanes from mt. Washington only to the tunnel and the fucker put the sign right in front of my bumper. I had to backup. On the bridge. And everyone thought I was the asshole.

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rabid_braindeer OP t1_iu0edaw wrote

Dude what?! What are you even supposed to do in that situation lol Also backing up on the bridge sounds fucking terrifying

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el_goate t1_iu0fajo wrote

Once the extra lane for outbound switches to green it’s a mad scramble for all the amateur race car drivers to be the first through the tunnel in the left lane. Pretty much chaos for a minute or two.

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Cutter70 t1_iu0veh5 wrote

They don’t use stop lights, they use the lighting system over the individual lanes. Green if you can drive there, then I think they move to yellow then red. There are enough minutes in this change to allow for cars to move through. So for several minutes there, the shared lane is empty as it transfers direction.

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DrKeithOctagon t1_iu1244p wrote

Yes, it turns to yellow. Then the traffic lights are extra long (I've been stuck in it) to clear the remaining cars.

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Ok-Twist921 t1_iu0j5e9 wrote

You immediately get haunted by ghosts if this happens. I’m taking this to a council meeting asap

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HokieRider t1_iu0t1ir wrote

I did it three times in one week. No one stops traffic. The lights don’t prevent you from entering while the arrows change. They just change. First time I almost got hung out. Second time I was able to change about halfway across. Third time I was maybe 30 ft from the light on the tunnel side and they pulled out the big sign and the arrows changed.

Yes, it’s chaos. But it gets sorted out pretty quickly.

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tesla3by3 t1_iu0v0mm wrote

The Golden Gate Bridge has a special truck that moves the jersey barrier twice a day. link

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Far_Room23 t1_iu1hu35 wrote

I’ve thought about this on a couple of the bridges and also the HOV lane on 279.

I’m sure they have a great solution in place but I still keep it in the back of my mind while driving on them.

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jumpyg1258 t1_iu1l967 wrote

If its like any other lane system with lights for which lane you can be in, there will be a period of a couple minutes where both sides show red X to clear the lane.

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fuzzimus t1_iu1aoff wrote

Yinz jagoffs git in yer dang own lanes!

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MustangMimi t1_iu2mygi wrote

Spontaneous combustion.🤯

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TeliInCorner t1_iu548qo wrote

They turn on the red light and wait for that traffic to finish before switching other side to green.

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padotim t1_iu2umya wrote

Still not sure if any of this is better than just leaving it two lanes in each direction at all times. What percent goes to Mt Washington, >5%? >2%? Just make them wait with the 51 traffic. Same inbound, does having 3 inbound lanes in the morning really make it that much better? It goes from 2 lanes in the tunnel to 3 on the bridge, the tunnel is the bottleneck, not the bridge.

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