Drivers heading to Pittsburgh Penguins games at PPG Paints Arena could encounter heavier than usual traffic as construction continues on Duquesne University's planned health sciences complex along Forbes Avenue.
The work is taking place near the intersection of Forbes and Fifth avenues, one of the busiest approaches into uptown and downtown Pittsburgh, according to a community announcement. With thousands of fans expected to travel through the area on game nights, motorists may want to allow extra time as they navigate construction zones near the arena.
Duquesne is moving forward with a new 80,000-square-foot facility for its John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Sciences. The university announced plans for the project during the school's 35th
anniversary celebration and has launched a fundraising campaign to support the $68 million development.
University officials said the building is expected to open in fall 2028 and will bring together health sciences programs currently spread across campus.
"The new building will stand as a physical embodiment of our investment in people, access to care and the future of health care innovation," said Fevzi Akinci, dean of the Rangos School of Health Sciences. "It truly will be built to impact the lives of others."
The facility is planned along Forbes Avenue near Duquesne's recently opened College of Osteopathic Medicine. University leaders said the building is intended to strengthen connections among health care programs and expand access to clinical services.
New building planned as part of Forbes Avenue health corridor
Duquesne leaders say the project is part of a broader vision for a health care corridor stretching through uptown.
President Ken Gormley said the facility will build on the university's growing role in regional health care while enhancing the corridor between downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland.
The building will include advanced simulation areas, flexible classrooms, integrated technology and street-level clinical entrances designed to improve public access to services. The university said those clinical spaces could increase community engagement and improve accessibility for programs such as the Speech-Language Hearing Clinic, which handles about 5,000 visits annually.
Provost and incoming President David Dausey said the new building will provide approximately 20% more space than the school currently occupies.
"When finished, the new health sciences facility will be 20% larger than the space currently occupied by the School and will collect its programs within a single location, with the best contemporary facilities and equipment."
Traffic impacts may affect Penguins fans
For commuters and hockey fans, the most noticeable effect in the near term may be traffic.
The construction site sits along a key route used by drivers traveling to PPG Paints Arena from multiple directions. Congestion is possible before games as fans, students, commuters and construction-related traffic converge in the uptown area.
Duquesne officials say the long-term goal is to support workforce development and expand educational opportunities in physical therapy, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, athletic training, public health, health administration and speech-language pathology.
The university said philanthropic support will play a key role in completing the project and helping shape the future of health sciences education in Pittsburgh.
This story was produced by reporter Gabby Sartori, [gsartori@usatodayco.com], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Construction creates traffic issues ahead of Penguins home games
