$2.5M in repairs proposed for Pittsburgh's 30th Street Bridge

Pittsburgh’s 30th Street Bridge connecting Herr’s Island and River Avenue will likely see $2.5 million worth of repairs next year.

Pittsburgh City Council is considering allocating money for the project from two funds designated for bridge improvements. Council also is considering spending $384,400 to pay for a construction inspection.

The deck of the bridge is rated in poor condition, said Councilman Bobby Wilson, who represents the area where the bridge is located.

“Residents always complain about potholes,” he said, acknowledging that residents have pushed for it to be fixed for several years.

Plans for the repairs have been in the works since 2019, Wilson said. Construction is slated to begin in 2023.

The repairs will include replacing the concrete deck, expansion joints and bridge lighting, as well as repairs to sidewalks and barriers.

The bridge needs more work than what is currently proposed, Wilson said. The span will eventually require substructure repairs, but there isn’t funding for that currently.

With the proposed repairs, Wilson said, the goal is to “extend the useful life of the bridge.”

The 30th Street Bridge is owned and maintained by the city of Pittsburgh.

The proposed work comes as local officials are looking for ways to improve and invest in the city’s infrastructure in the wake of the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse, which injured 10 people and left some drivers wary of the bridges they cross during their daily commutes.

People have called for repairs to other bridges rated in poor condition, including Shadyside’s South Negley Avenue Bridge, which some say appears to be supported by wooden posts placed beneath its deck.