Route 28 retaining wall to bear artistic flair

After four years, construction on Route 28 is ending with an artistic flourish.

Workers as of last week had completed installation of four of six art panels on a retaining wall, depicting the rich history of the area. The images were drawn from a time before motor vehicles became the dominant feature of the corridor.

They were continuing work on a fifth panel that will depict the recently demolished St. Nicholas Church, site of the first Croatian national parish in the United States. The parish was established in 1894 and the church was built in 1901.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation added the art feature to a new retaining wall built parallel to the inbound lanes beneath Troy Hill. It commissioned artist Laurie Lundquist of Tempe, Ariz., to conceive the images. The art panels are 14 feet tall and 30 to 60 feet wide.

Its trying to make the point that this particular stretch of Route 28 has an incredible history, Ms. Lundquist said. So much has happened there.

Ms. Lundquist has worked on public art projects for 25 years, many of them enhancements to transportation facilities. It is her first creation in Pennsylvania.

According to PennDOT, the other panels will depict:

The Josip Marohnic Bookstore, possibly the nations first Croatian book emporium. He was a leader in Pittsburghs Croatian community and helped to establish the St. Nicholas parish and raise money for the church.

Thomas Carlins Foundry, which produced manhole covers and sewer inlets from 1860 to 1916, several of which are still in place in Pittsburgh. The foundry was known internationally for production of engines, boilers and other equipment.

A silhouette of Troy Hill with a canal boat in tow. The Pennsylvania Canal was built in the 1820s and was a key transportation feature in the state.

Go here to see the original:
Route 28 retaining wall to bear artistic flair