Pittsburgh's Fern Hollow Bridge Expected To Reopen Friday

PITTSBURGH, PA — Less than a year after the spectacular collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge drew national headlines and a site visit by President Joe Biden, the span's replacement is scheduled to open to traffic on Friday. But its reopening to traffic could be delayed because of a massive winter storm headed toward the city.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told KDKA-TV on Monday that the span would open by Dec. 23.

However, Maria Montano, spokesperson for Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, told the Pittsburgh Business Times on Tuesday that the winter storm potentially could throw a wrench into those plans. The storm is expected to bring rain to the area on Thursday and accumulating snow, high winds and frigid temperatures on Friday.

PennDOT ultimately will decide when the bridge reopens, Montano said.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to be attended by Gov. Tom Wolf, Gainey and others is expected to occur Wednesday.

The 447-foot-long Fern Hollow span linking Forbes and South Braddock avenues fell approximately 100 feet into Frick Park early in the morning of Jan. 28. Ten people were injured, and a Pittsburgh Rapid Transit bus and five other vehicles were damaged in the incident.

The collapsed coincided with a Pittsburgh visit by President Joe Biden to tout the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law approved last year.

The legislation allowed PennDOT to provide funds for the Fern Hollow Bridge replacement
without impacting other important projects in the area. While no direct money was obtained via the new law, it enabled the agency to channel money to Fern Hollow from other projects whose funding will be replenished by the infrastructure legislation.