Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse: NTSB Releases Initial Findings

PITTSBURGH, PA — Few answers were revealed regarding the reason for the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in the initial National Transportation Safety Board report regarding the incident.

Released on Monday, the report states that the federal agency continues to evaluate the design of the bridge, its condition at the time of the collapse, its maintenance and rehabilitation history, and its inspection and load rating history.

The 447-foot-long bridge fell approximately 100 feet into Frick Park early in the morning of Jan. 28. Ten people were injured and a Port Authority bus and five other vehicles were damaged in the incident.

The NTSB previously has stated a final report could take more than a year to complete.

As the investigation progresses, the NTSB plans to conduct forensic examination of several of the bridge’s structural components. All aspects of the collapse remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to
prevent similar events.

Although certain areas of the bridge's welded steel girders were identified as being fracture critical, no primary fractures were found in the span's ruins.

Initial assessment of bridge components indicates that the collapse initiated at the west end of the structure. Further examination will be performed as debris from the bridge is removed and unobstructed access becomes available.

The NTSB is evaluating the design of the bridge, its condition at the time of the collapse, its maintenance and rehabilitation history, and its inspection and load rating history.

The city will receive about $25 million in federal aid to construct a replacement span, which likely will take at least two years.

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