PennDOT to reinspect bridges with similar design as Fern Hollow Bridge
PennDOT officials said Tuesday they plan to reinspect five bridges in Pennsylvania that have similar designs as the collapsed Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh.
The bridges scheduled for reinspection include the ramp from Beechwood Boulevard to the Parkway East in Squirrel Hill, the Canon-McMillan Alumni Bridge in North Strabane and the Shenango Road Bridge in Beaver County, said PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan. The other two bridges are in Eastern Pennsylvania — the Philip J. Fahy Memorial Bridge in Bethlehem and McCullum Street Bridge in Philadelphia.
Cowan said those five bridges are all in fair or better condition and do not require posting for weight restrictions.
Ten people were injured Friday when the bridge in Pittsburgh’s Frick Park collapsed, sending a Port Authority bus and several other vehicles into a ravine below.
Fern Hollow Bridge was last inspected in September. PennDOT officials declined to provide the inspection report or any information regarding potential safety concerns regarding the bridge.
Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O’Connor introduced legislation Tuesday to create an infrastructure commission that he hopes would prevent an event like Friday’s Fern Hollow Bridge collapse from happening again
“These bills make the process of maintaining and improving our infrastructure more transparent,” O’Connor said.
Julia Felton is a TribLive reporter covering Pittsburgh City Hall and other news in and around Pittsburgh. A La Roche University graduate, she joined the Trib in 2020. She can be reached at jfelton@triblive.com.
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