More Pittsburgh officials urge PennDOT to slow down on Fern Hollow Bridge replacement

Some officials continue to voice concerns with the proposed design for Pittsburgh’s new Fern Hollow Bridge.

PennDOT is overseeing the bridge’s design and construction, but the city will take control of the bridge once construction is complete. Because the project would be done under an emergency declaration, with work tentatively scheduled to start in late April, the process is moving quickly and can bypass certain elements of the public process, including review from Pittsburgh’s Art Commission.

In a letter to PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian, Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb urged officials to “pause and better incorporate public feedback into the design process.”

Renderings of the proposed design were unveiled this week. The new span will remain along the same roadway, with four lanes for vehicles, as well as a sidewalk on the north side of the bridge and a two-way, shared-used path on the south side of the bridge.

Lamb said the design won’t be accommodating for people who walk or bike across the bridge.

“We have a collective responsibility to ensure the new bridge serves the needs of all Pittsburghers,” Lamb said. “This includes walkers, bikers and people of all ages and abilities. Unfortunately, the initial images reflect a bridge that does not match the now-collapsed bridge in terms of space for people on non-motor vehicles, nor does it match the aesthetic of Frick Park or the adjacent neighborhoods.”

While Lamb said he applauded “the speed at which this project is moving,” he urged officials to take the time to listen to the residents who will see and use the span regularly.

Scott Bricker of Bike Pittsburgh said he appreciated how quickly city officials and PennDOT are moving to replace the bridge, because Forbes Avenue is an important traffic corridor in Pittsburgh’s East End. But he said he was hoping the new design would incorporate a redesign for that section of Forbes to slow vehicles down, and make it more friendly for cyclists and pedestrians.

“We want the roadway to guide the bridge design. We think there can be serious traffic calming there,” Bricker said.

Bricker said the section of Forbes Avenue near the bridge site regularly sees drivers speeding and he believes reducing a lane might help slow vehicles down to 30 mph.

Bricker said he also is wondering why the bike lanes that were on the Fern Hollow Bridge before it collapsed were eliminated from the replacement design. Renderings indicate the shared-use path can be used for bikes and scooters, but that would force cyclists traveling westbound to cross four lanes of traffic to enter the westbound bike lane on Forbes Avenue coming up the hill.

“It is great that we are going to have a bridge in less than two years, but I am hopeful they will listen to the public and make it as good as it can be and still move quickly,” Bricker said.

Art Commission President Andrew Moss said he is less hopeful.

“We all understand that this bridge needs to be completed quickly, but we are asking that they think about it aesthetically, and cost effectively,” Moss said. “A new bridge has the ability to enhance the beauty of the city.”

Moss said the commission’s role is to ensure that creativity is implemented on major projects, and he noted that Fern Hollow Bridge is infrastructure enjoyed from above and below, as hiking trails travel under the bridge.

City Councilman Corey O’Connor, whose district includes the bridge site, said he has spoken with PennDOT about traffic patterns on the bridge and other issues.

“There’s still some time to tweak,” O’Connor said. “Hearing from a lot of constituents, everyone’s interested in having that conversation once the bridge is handed over to the city.”

Maria Montaño, a spokeswoman for Mayor Ed Gainey, said it’s important to remember the renderings aren’t the final product.

“The renderings provided by PennDOT don’t necessarily reflect what the final overall aesthetic is going to look like,” she said. “Those things are still under review and there will be time for folks to weigh in on those specific aesthetic elements of the bride. Rightfully so, folks would like this bridge to fit into the community. We definitely hear that.”

PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan has said that, while the public process is “somewhat compressed,” the agency is collaborating with the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation.

PennDOT has also launched a webpage where it will begin taking public comments on the project in the coming days.

Regarding concerns about bicyclists and pedestrians, Montaño said the redesigned bridge “actually has 50% more space for bikes and pedestrians. While we were never able to widen the structure — because that just wasn’t feasible — we were able to work with our traffic engineers to really improve the bicycle and pedestrian conditions.”

The vehicle lanes and shoulders are narrower, allowing more room for bikes and pedestrians. The new bridge will include a barrier between vehicles and pedestrians to improve safety, Montaño said.

“This is an improvement over the old Fern Hollow Bridge,” she said.