East Carson Street reopens to traffic following collapsed building demolition

Following the demolition of a partially collapsed building at 1604 E. Carson St. on Pittsburgh’s South Side, the street reopened Thursday afternoon to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The block of East Carson between South 16th and South 17th streets had been closed ever since the partial collapse Aug. 12.

Barricades on the sidewalk and parking lane are still in place for the length of the affected structures.

Engineers had to stabilize two adjacent buildings before the demolition was allowed to begin.

The one block area had been closed to traffic for nearly a week after the upper floor of the two story building fell into the street during a thunderstorm. Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said no injuries were reported although one firefighter was treated for glass in his eye.

Early reports suggested lightning may have struck the building, which housed an ice cream shop on the lower floor, but that still has not been confirmed.