A short bridge near the Fox Chapel Plaza will be prioritized for repairs by Allegheny County after receiving a poor rating, officials said.

Squaw Run Bridge No. 1, which is part of Old Freeport Road in O’Hara, will be targeted for repair work intended to prevent further decay, county Public Works spokesperson Brent Wasko said.

“While not unsafe, it is in poor condition,” Wasko said.

The bridge, built in 1982, carries Old Freeport Road over Squaw Run, which flows into the nearby Allegheny River.

It leads to the entrance of the Chapel Harbor at the Water mixed-used development.

In the wake of the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in January, county officials said they plan to repair, replace or remove all 27 of the county’s poorly rated bridges within the next few years.

The Fern Hollow Bridge, part of Forbes Avenue through Frick Park in Squirrel Hill, is owned and maintained by the City of Pittsburgh.

Wasko said construction on the Squaw Run Bridge likely will happen in 2023 or 2024.

“We are planning a preservation project for the bridge,” he said. “That type of project is a proactive measure intended to prevent, delay or reduce deterioration and extend the life of the structure.”

Initial cost estimates are about $3.4 million.

Township manager Julie Jakubec could not be reached for comment.

The waterway has retained its name, while other nearby places once called Squaw Run have been renamed as the term “Squaw” is recognized as a slur against Native American women. O’Hara Township changed the name of a park to O’Hara Township Community Park in 2020 and Fox Chapel Borough changed the names of two roads in 2021. While the municipalities made the name changes with a council vote, the process of changing the name of a tributary is more complex, involving multiple government agencies.

The bridge has never undergone extensive repairs. A 2014 project was conducted to repair the concrete barrier and stave off deterioration from water damage.

The span carries about 825 vehicles a day; there is no weight restriction.

Wasko said the most recent bridge review revealed fascia beams in poor condition.

A recently approved $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure bill will help fund the county’s work on the Squaw Run span and others.

Since 2012, the county has completed 95 bridge projects totaling about $284 million.

About $38 million is budgeted for bridge repairs this year.

Wasko said that while plans are tentative, the county expects to bid the project along with five other bridges in early 2023.

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