For the past 18 months, Independence Excavating (IX) has been hard at work transforming downtown Pittsburgh’s transit infrastructure as part of the Pittsburgh Regional Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System. This ambitious project is improving the city’s transportation network, enhancing safety, and increasing efficiency for thousands of daily commuters.

Phase One of the BRT project kicked off in August 2023, requiring IX to relocate underground utilities, restore roadways and sidewalks, install new traffic patterns and signals, and place five new bus shelters.

One of the first major tasks was relocating underground water and sewer infrastructure, ensuring that critical services were updated and repositioned to accommodate the new transit system. After these relocations, IX temporarily restored each work area to maintain accessibility while construction progressed.

IX’s electrical subcontractor, Vantage, then stepped in to install new traffic signal poles, mast arms, controller boxes, and pedestrian walkway signals, helping to streamline traffic flow and improve safety for pedestrians and motorists alike.

As part of the final restoration, IX placed over 2,000 linear feet of custom-made granite curbs before pouring exposed aggregate concrete sidewalks—a key aesthetic and functional improvement for the area. Once poured, the sidewalks were pressure-washed to achieve the signature exposed aggregate finish.

Now, with Phase One nearing completion, IX crews are installing new bus stations, a critical step before the dedicated bus lane receives its red high-friction surface treatment. This phase of the project is set to be fully functional by mid-2025.

With Phase One wrapping up, IX has already begun work on Phase Two. The company received the official notice to proceed on November 22, 2024, marking the start of the next stage, which extends the BRT system from downtown Pittsburgh into Uptown and Oakland.

Starting in early 2025, IX crews began relocating underground utilities, setting the stage for further infrastructure improvements. Once this work is completed, the team will focus on:

✅ Roadway and sidewalk restoration

✅ Traffic reconfiguration and signal updates

✅ Installation of 18 additional bus shelters

Spanning over five miles of roadway, Phase Two is projected to take 27 months to complete, ultimately creating a more modern, efficient, and accessible public transit system for Pittsburgh.

Independence Excavating is proud to play a key role in this transformative project, working alongside Pittsburgh Regional Transit to enhance mobility, improve commuter experiences, and revitalize urban infrastructure. With each phase, IX is helping to shape the future of public transit in Pittsburgh—one milestone at a time.