Fern Hollow Bridge to reopen, Gov. Wolf cuts ribbon
PITTSBURGH – Less than a year after its collapse, the Fern Hollow Bridge is expected to reopen to traffic.
Governor Tom Wolf participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday at the Pittsburgh-based bridge, which is expected to reopen by the end of December.
The Fern Hollow Bridge, which is owned by the City of Pittsburgh and carries Forbes Avenue over Frick Park, Fern Hollow Creek and Tranquil Trail, collapsed on the morning of January 28, 2022.
“I was here on January 28 to survey the damage from the collapse, and today, less than a year later, I stand before a bridge that is nearly ready to reopen to traffic,” said Gov. Wolf. “This is the power of government working for the people in Pennsylvania.
“I’m thankful to all of our partners in state, local and federal government for your partnership and coordination to rebuild the Fern Hollow Bridge in less than a year. It’s an honor to be here to celebrate this incredible milestone for Pittsburgh.”
Following the collapse on Jan. 28, the city declared a state of emergency in order to expedite the rebuilding process. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said the fast turnaround reflects the keen cooperation of officials at the local, state, and national levels.
The proclamations also provided the Federal Highway Administration and PennDOT the approval to immediately contract with Swank Construction Company and HDR Inc. for the removal of the collapsed structure, and the design and construction of the new Fern Hollow Bridge.
Gov. Wolf was joined at the ribbon cutting ceremony by PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian, US Department of Transportation Director of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Implementation Katie Thomson, Mayor Ed Gainey, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Senator Jay Costa, Representative Dan Frankel and PennDOT District 11 Executive Cheryl Moon-Sirianni.
“This new bridge is the result of incredible collaboration,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “And thanks to the federal investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we were able to quickly mobilize to rebuilt this bridge without impacting funds for other important projects.”
“This is a historic day for Pittsburgh,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “The rebuilding of Fern Hollow bridge in less than one year shows what we can accomplish when we work together. Thank you to President Biden, Governor Wolf, PennDOT, and everyone who made this day possible.”
