Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse: City Opens Observation Area

PITTSBURGH, PA — As workers attempted to remove vehicles from the ruins of the Fern Hollow Bridge on Monday, the city opened an observation area for those curious to see the damage.

The area, open dawn to dusk, can be accessed via Forbes Avenue on the Squirrel Hill side of the fallen span. A designated parking area has been established near the site, which requires a five- to 10-minute walk down Forbes.

The bridge collapsed early Friday morning, injuring 10 people but causing no fatalities. The National Transportation Safety Board is at the scene attempting to determine what caused the span to fail.

Mayor Ed Gainey has signed a disaster declaration that will enable the city to more easily obtain federal money to construct a replacement. Still, a new bridge likely will take two to three years to construct.

Frick Park, which was closed over the weekend due to onlookers attempting to get close to the scene, has mostly reopened. A 100-yard perimeter around the collapse site is closed to the public.

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