First details of Swinburne Bridge replacement project revealed by city

Pittsburgh officials held a public meeting on Thursday evening to provide the first details about the project to replace the Swinburne Bridge, which connects the city’s South Oakland and Greenfield neighborhoods.

The Swinburne bridge is 107 years old and in poor condition. There is deterioration to the bridge, which carries Frazier Street over Saline Street in Greenfield’s Four-mile Run neighborhood. In 2014, the bridge had its weight limit downgraded.

Zack Workman, project manager at the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI), addressed concerns at the meeting of about three dozen residents about the safety of the bridge, given the recent collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge.

He said the city is actively inspecting the Swinburne Bridge, in case officials need to intervene and close the bridge. It was last inspected in April, said officials.

“We are absolutely not going to have another bridge collapse, that can’t happen, and we are not going to let that happen,” Workman said.

The project

The preliminary design for the replacement bridge will largely be the same as the existing bridge, but it will be wider thanks to the addition of a shared use path on the west side of the bridge.

Additional bridge beams and supports will be added underneath the new bridge.

It will also include a new traffic signal with crosswalks for pedestrians at the intersection of Frazier Street and Greenfield Avenue, and a dedicated left-turn lane from eastbound Greenfield to northbound Frazier.

Construction set for 2024

Officials said they hope to start construction on the bridge in 2024, and it should last about 18 months and finish in 2026.

The project will be funded with 80% federal funds, 15% state funds, and a 5% local match. Thanks to the $1.2 trillion infrastructure law passed in 2021, the city of Pittsburgh is set to receive nearly $40 million to repair or replace its bridges, including Swinburne.

Construction is set to go through three phases: demolition of the existing bridge, and then two construction phases.

Detours will exist throughout.

Workman said that access to Saline Street underneath the bridge will have to be maintained throughout demolition and construction, since it’s the only street in or out of Four-mile Run.

He said the city will be coordinating temporary stoppages with residents to make sure crews can demolish or construct the structure to maintain safety.

Charles Anderson Bridge work

The nearby Charles Anderson Bridge is also slated for repairs. Residents asked if they would be repaired simultaneously, and were concerned about the traffic that could cause.

Officials said they are unsure about the exact timelines for each project, but that it would ensure they would not be done simultaneously

DOMI Chief Engineer Eric Setzler said no property acquisition should be necessary for the Swinburne replacement, but the city might need to have temporary easements.

Setzler also addressed concerns about the viability of adding a shared-use path to the bridge, which can be used by cyclists and pedestrians, since Frazier Street has no bike infrastructure.

He said the city is looking at possibly bike-ped connections down the line, even if there is nothing currently funding. Setzler mentioned a possible staircase up to South Oakland from the bridge and maybe a trail connection down to the Junction Hollow trail.

“There isn’t a connection now, but it opens up a lot of potential for the future,” he said, noting the city expects the bridge to have a 100-year service life.

Workman said Thursday’s meeting is the first of many moving forward.

Interested parties can learn more at DOMI’s website.