Motorists must avoid the inbound Parkway East/Interstate 376 beyond the Edgewood-Swissvale interchange this weekend.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will close the busy highway in that direction starting at the Churchill interchange (10A) from 9 p.m. today until no later than 5 a.m. Monday. If the contractor finishes early, PennDOT will reopen the road early.

All outbound lanes will remain open over the weekend.

Inbound traffic will be detoured to Penn Avenue and Braddock Avenue back to the Parkway East inbound at the Edgewood-Swissvale interchange.

PennDOT said people who use the detour route should expect significant delays, especially on Sunday afternoon, when both the Penguins and Pirates will play in Pittsburgh.

Officials encouraged people to use alternate routes. Westbound traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike could consider staying on the toll road until the Route 28/Allegheny Valley or I-279/Warrendale exits instead of coping with stop-and-go traffic for an hour or longer.

Work on the three-mile, $22.8 million rehabilitation will continue through fall. There are no weekday restrictions, but lanes are often closed or restricted overnight.

PennDOT provides project information on a hot line at 412-429-6035 and on the Internet at www.penndot11.com.