Pittsburgh Needs To Fix Numerous Bridge Problems, Study Finds

PITTSBURGH, PA — A study released Thursday by Mayor Ed Gainey's office indicated that the city's bridge safety issues didn't end with the rebuilding of the Fern Hollow Bridge that collapsed in January.

Local engineering firm WSP conducted 147 vehicular and pedestrian bridge reviews. WSP concluded that 27 bridges needed some work done immediately and another 69 have issues that need to be addressed within six months.

No span was considered to be in imminent danger of collapse.

The report was released a day after Gainey and others participated in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the new Fern Hollow Bridge, which was rebuilt in less than a year after its spectacular collapse in January. Ten people were injured when the span linking Squirrel Hill and Regent Square fell about 100 feet into Frick Park.

"When Fern Hollow Bridge came down, I knew that we had work to do to understand the condition of our city owned bridges, to make needed repairs, and to instill confidence in our infrastructure,” Mayor Ed Gainey said in a statement. “This report of the Bridge Asset Management Program is intended for everyone to understand the state of all 147 city owned bridges."

Officials said the city has responded proactively to the study's findings, completing repairs on a rolling basis. The city intends to hire a bridge asset manager and initiate a bridge cleaning and maintenance program next year.

Read the full report here.