Long-Closed Pittsburgh Bridge Reopening

PITTSBURGH, PA — Nearly two years after it closed fox extensive structural repairs, the Panther Hollow Bridge in Oakland's Schenley Park is expected to reopen Friday.

The city closed the 130-year-old bridge in October 2024 following concerns identified by bridge inspectors. Construction activities started in January 2026.

“The Panther Hollow Bridge has been part of Pittsburgh for more than 130 years, and today we’re making sure this important Schenley Park connection can continue serving Pittsburghers for years to come,” Mayor Corey O’Connor said.

"Thousands of residents and visitors rely on this bridge daily, so we made it a priority to identify the issues, complete the necessary repairs, and safely reopen it to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. This project is a good reminder of why we must stay ahead of our infrastructure needs and continue investing in the safety and resilience of Pittsburgh’s bridges before small problems become bigger ones.”

The bridge work included:

• Repairs and strengthening to truss connections at 52 locations

• Repairs to steel stringers at seven locations

• Maintenance on the truss bearings

• Repointing of masonry in the approach spans

• Improvements to bridge downspouts and expansion joints

• Repairs to curbs and sidewalks

• Installation of a protective coat over top of the roadway

"The reopening of the Panther Hollow Bridge is a success story in modern asset management,” said city director of the department of mobility and infrastructure Jeff Skalican.

“The critical repairs needed on this bridge may not have been identified as early had we not begun looking more critically at our city-owned structure assets in the wake of the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse. Since then, our Bridge Asset Management Program has become one of our greatest tools in our goal to provide Pittsburghers with safe and resilient transportation.”

Prior to the closure, the Panther Hollow Bridge had an average daily traffic of 5,359 vehicles per day and hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists.