The five-way intersection at Forward and Murray avenues and Pocusset Street in Squirrel Hill has always been a challenge for pedestrians.
But now that construction at the former Poli’s restaurant site has closed part of the sidewalk on Murray, Pittsburgh police say it’s downright dangerous.
After a Pittsburgh Allderdice student was struck in the intersection last week, Cmdr. Dan Herrmann has stationed two officers there during morning and afternoon hours and is working with city officials to get more signs, perhaps widen the remaining crosswalks and increase the time the traffic signal allows to cross the street.
Police also hope to install a video camera to help monitor the intersection and are considering a mid-block crosswalk on Murray between between Forward and Morrowfield, Cmdr. Herrman said.
In addition, Allderdice distributed written recommendations for students to use different paths to bus stops and prepared a video to help reinforce safe practices crossing the busy intersection.
“We get a lot of kids who go down that way,” said Principal James McCoy, whose high school of about 1,500 students at Forward and Shady avenues is a block away from construction.
An addition to students who live in the neighborhood, those from Hazelwood catch Port Authority buses on Murray and others head that way for after-school snacks at retail stores.
During a tour of the construction area Tuesday, Cmdr. Herrmann pointed out that there no longer is a sidewalk at the corner where Poli’s used to be and concrete barriers narrow the existing lane of traffic on Murray. But that doesn’t stop some students from walking in the street beside the concrete barriers in moving traffic, he said, and last week someone started to push a woman in a wheelchair there until he thought better of it.
And a 15-year-old girl from Allderdice was struck last week when she was crossing Murray at Pocusset when vehicles had the right of way, he said.
Police have worked with the high school and the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition to talk about improvements, the commander said. The contractor can’t provide space for pedestrians between the concrete barriers and the construction fence because of material deliveries.
Right now, Cmdr. Herrmann said he is offering overtime for officers to direct traffic in the intersection and if he can’t get volunteers he will assign officers there during their shifts. The situation will only get trickier in the next few months when the contractor closes the sidewalk on the other side of Murray, where Poli’s had a parking lot, creationg what Cmdr. Herrmann called “a funnel” for traffic and pedestrians.
“We’re going to be into this project for about three years, so we have to get things worked out,” he said.
Mr. McCoy said police have taken “a good first step” to address concerns but they will have to stay in close contact with the school and neighborhood as the project proceeds.
Developer Herky Pollock and partner Morgan Communities are building 125 market-rate apartments, 13,300 square feet of retail, and about 130 parking spaces over roughly three floors. Among the amenities will be a rooftop gym and garden space.
Ed Blazina: eblazina@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1470 or on Twitter @EdBlazina.
First Published: September 26, 2017, 11:22 p.m.
