and PA 28, at which point the route merges into northbound I-279 with ramps to and from westbound PA 28. History I-579's roots go back to 1966 when the short Crosstown Boulevard from the Boulevard of the Allies (PA 885) to Bigelow Boulevard (PA 380) was designated as Interstate 479 (I-479). Despite the choice of number, its parent I-79 was only completed in certain areas; there would be no connection of the two routes until 1989. By 1971, with only little progression of I-79 near I-479's northern terminus and easy (but indirect) access to then-I-76 (now I-376 Parkway East) from the southern terminus, I-479 was renumbered as Interstate 876 (I-876). This was renumbered again on October 2, 1972, as its current designation of I-579; in addition, I-79's designation from Pittsburgh to Robinson Township was "swapped" with I-279's segment south of the Ohio River from PA 51 to the Parkway West interchange. In 1989, both of I-79's auxiliary routes were finally connected with the openings of I-279 (Parkway North) from the Fort Duquesne Bridge/North Shore to its northern terminus at I-79 in Franklin Park and the Veterans Bridge which extended I-579 across the Allegheny River to its new northern terminus at I-279 in Pittsburgh's East Allegheny neighborhood. In 2019, the I-579 Cap Urban Connector Project began in order to build a pedestrian park over I-579 with the goal of better connecting downtown to the Hill District. The project was completed in 2021 and the park opened to the public on November 22, 2021. Exit list See also References External links I-579 on Kurumi.com Interstate Guide - I-579 Pennsylvania Highways: I-579 I-579 at AARoads.com Pennsylvania Roads - I-579 79-5 79-5 876 5 Transportation in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania