Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse: Disaster Emergency Declared

PITTSBURGH, PA — Mayor Ed Gainey has signed a disaster emergency declaration following Friday's collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge along Forbes Avenue over Frick Park in the city's east end. The move should increase the availability of federal funds and expedite the process of cleanup and reconstruction of the span.

The city also has become a party to the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation of the incident. All city departments will share information with the agency in support of its independent probe of the collapse.

“The Fern Hollow Bridge collapse is a painful reminder of the condition of our bridges and a call to action to address our aging infrastructure,” Gainey said in a statement. “As the city of bridges, we know how critical our infrastructure is to working families. They are the connectors to jobs, to schools, to childcare, and more."

Ten people were injured when the span collapsed and sent a Port Authority bus and other vehicles into a Frick Park ravine. None of the injuries are considered life-threatening.

NTSB officials said it could be more than a year before their investigation concludes.

Frick Park is closed temporarily until the bridge collapse site can be fully secured. City departments are working to reopen as much of the park as possible in the near future.

The city is is modifying traffic signals in the vicinity of the bridge detour and restricting parking access at the on of South Braddock and Forbes Avenue.

The city has temporarily eliminated at least 100 feet of street parking next to Forbes-Braddock playground. Traffic routes and detours are as follows:

• Local drivers and residents should follow S. Dallas to Penn Avenue to S. Braddock.
• All regional traffic should use the Parkway East instead of Penn Avenue.

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