February 12, 2023 10:51 am
Irony? Serendipity? A sign I’ve walked too many bridges? It’s been one year since Pittsburgh’s Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed into Frick Park and another important arterial bridge is now closed and I am once again unable to fully explore due to another foot injury.
Shortly after the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed, photos of temporary wires holding up the Charles Anderson Bridge supplementing the original metal structure that had rusted all the way through in places peppered social media and made the news with the question of would this be the next bridge to collapse? On February 1, 2023, the Charles Anderson Bridge was “immediately closed” to vehicular traffic (press release). Those with fully functioning limbs are still able to walk or bike across or under the bridge – it passes over another one of Pittsburgh’s major parks (Schenley Park).
The bridge was closed to facilitate interim repairs that may take four months. The bridge has been slated for a full rehabilitation for several years (see the City’s project page for more). The original projection was that this project would be funded this year, but according to a press release from the Mayor’s office on February 2, the expected funds have been delayed until 2027 and the City is looking for ways to expedite the funding.
Also, along the lines of serendipity, I happened to be browsing my copy of Bob Regan’s “The Bridges of Pittsburgh” (2006) this week for unrelated reasons and came across the section “Bridge Disasters.” The section opens with the statement: “Although Pittsburgh area bridges are quite safe and there has been an absence of bridge problems in modern times, this was not always the case.” (page 50) After identifying several of the bridge disasters from pre-modern times (summarized below), he ends this section with “Since that time [1927] there has not been a bridge collapse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and there has never been a collapse of an operating bridge. However, this record was somewhat blemished in late 2005 with the collapse of a portion (one side girder) of a bridge over I-70 near Washington, PA.” (page 51) Of course, any updated version of the book will now have to strike this claim due to the 2022 collapse of the operating Fern Hollow Bridge.
Driving over the new Fern Hollow Bridge this week, it looked in pretty much the same condition as in December with one lane of traffic in each direction and one shared path open. There were several bikers and pedestrians using it while we crossed during the latter part of rush hour.
Bridge disasters highlighted in “The Bridges of Pittsburgh:”
Below are the news updates on the Fern Hollow Bridge and other bridge maintenance and replacement efforts in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
Map of bridges discussed in the Bridge Collapse series:
Additional Resources:
Both PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have interactive maps of bridges for the state and country respective, and their inspection statuses. Pittsburgh now has the static Comprehensive Bridge Asset Management Program Report of the 147 bridges owned by the City of Pittsburgh.
Bridges in Pittsburgh with community engagement pages for pending rehabilitation or replacement projects:
Previous Fern Hollow Bridge Posts:
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Posted by Carolyn Ristau
Categories: Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Bridges
Tags: bridge collapse, bridges, Charles Anderson Bridge, Fern Hollow Bridge, Frick Park, pedestrians, Pittsburgh, Public Art, public space, redevelopment, Schenley Park, traffic, transportation, travel
Mobile Site | Full Site
Get a free blog at WordPress.com Theme: WordPress Mobile Edition by Alex King.
There is a railroad under the bridge? the train that goes under the bridge comes from Washington DC? And the train on the way back also goes under the bridge? I don’t think this train will break right here but will likely break sometime? maybe before the bridge is rebuilt? It’s only serendipity?
By Anonymous on February 13, 2023 at 7:49 pm
Yes, I believe the train from Washington, DC, goes under this bridge.
By Carolyn Ristau on February 13, 2023 at 9:56 pm
[…] One-Year Update […]
By Bridge Collapse: Eighteen Months Later | urbantraipsing on July 27, 2023 at 8:07 am
[…] One-Year Update […]
By Bridge Collapse: Two Years Later | urbantraipsing on January 15, 2024 at 8:05 am
[…] the bridge was allocated when Obama was President. Similarly, the Charles Anderson Bridge has been closed to traffic for most of President Biden’s term in office, to the annoyance of many, but that is also when […]
By Funding Bridges | urbantraipsing on December 15, 2024 at 1:27 pm
[…] Charles Anderson Bridge was immediately closed to vehicular traffic on February 1, 2023. On November 4, 2024, the bridge was closed to bicycle and […]
By Bridge Collapse (PGH): Three Years Later | urbantraipsing on January 29, 2025 at 8:01 am