New Year's Eve traffic in and out of Pittsburgh for the First Night celebration might not so bad.
Parkway East will reopen at 2 p.m. Thursday, earlier than expected following Monday's implosion of the Greenfield Bridge.
The 93-year-old bridge carried traffic above Interstate 376. Authorities razed the dilapidated icon so a new span could be built. Construction is scheduled to wrap up by May 2017.
The interstate was closed before the implosion so crews could prepare and remove the demolition debris. It was initially expected to remain closed for at least five days; the roadway is opening early because cleanup took less time than anticipated.
Pittsburgh Chief Operations Officer Guy Costa said all inbound lanes and ramps should be open and accessible 3 p.m. The outbound entrance ramps will reopen between 10 p.m. and midnight.
Early reopening should ease traffic as thousands of revelers make their way Downtown for the city's New Year's celebration, Costa said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
