The quiet neighborhood streets of Baldwin Township have encountered an influx of travelers in the past few days due to the temporary closure of a major South Hills artery.

PennDOT closed portions of Route 88 South on Monday to reconstruct the roadway between McNeilly Road and Killarney Drive.

The closure, which is scheduled to last until Saturday or Sunday, has required traffic detours -- official and unofficial -- through Baldwin Township.

Southbound traffic is expected to take McNeilly Road to Pioneer Avenue, then Pioneer to Route 19 to Connor Road to Route 88 in Bethel Park, police Chief Terrance O'Brien wrote in a memo to township officials.

However, many drivers choose to take a less roundabout way, O'Brien noted.

"We haven't had any problems, other than complaints about increased traffic," O'Brien said.

The chief said his department is patrolling streets drivers are likely to use as shortcuts.

A stationary radar stand is located on Killarney to remind drivers of their speed and the neighborhood's 15 mph limit.

Calabria's restaurant, located at the Killarney intersection of Route 88, has provided drivers convenient, if unintended directions for how to quickly bypass the construction. Signs for the restaurant hang on stop sign posts and direct cars up Dewalt Drive, through Baldwin Township, and down to Killarney.

"A lot of people have been thanking us," said Michael Calabria, the restaurant's owner and a township resident.

"Anytime there's traffic, people cut through there. They're turning around in people's driveways and stuff. (Residents) say to us 'We have the extra traffic, but at least your signs are helping people get straight through.'"