Pittsburgh's poorly rated South Negley Avenue Bridge slated for repairs

As discussions about the safety of Western Pennsylvania’s bridges continue in the wake of last month’s Fern Hollow Bridge collapse, Pittsburgh’s South Negley Avenue Bridge is the latest span to raise concerns.

The Shadyside bridge has attracted attention for wooden posts placed beneath the deck that appear to be supporting the structure.

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, who represents the district where the bridge is located, said she is aware of the concerns. She declined to comment on the wooden posts.

She said the bridge is slated for repairs, though she said she could not provide details about the cost or scope of the repairs. The date for work to begin is a “moving target,” she said.

“I’m working with the appropriate people in the city of Pittsburgh who can … tell us whether we need to reassess the timeline and begin construction at an earlier date than expected,” Strassburger said.

Funding for the repairs is available through the city’s capital budget, she said.

PennDOT records show that the steel bridge, built in 1924, is rated in poor condition — the same rating as the Fern Hollow Bridge that collapsed, injuring 10 people in Pittsburgh’s Frick Park.

The 106-foot-long Shadyside bridge, owned by the city, is not posted with a weight restriction because of its poor condition and is used by an average of about 15,000 vehicles a day, the records show.

“I am wholly focused on the South Negley Bridge, and maintaining safety for all of our residents is of utmost concern to me,” Strassburger said.

The bridge is cause of concern for some residents who drive or walk across it.

“It’s definitely an issue. They definitely need to fix that,” said Chris Taylor, a University of Pittsburgh student who crosses the bridge daily.

Taylor, a Philadelphia native, said he generally feels somewhat uncomfortable with the condition of Pittsburgh’s bridges in comparison to ones in his hometown.

“It looks like it’s falling apart,” Shadyside’s Michael Kennedy said of the South Negley bridge. “The city desperately needs to refurbish their bridges.”

Since the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse, local officials appear to have a heightened interest in infrastructure investments. One in about eight bridges across Pennsylvania is rated in ‘poor’ condition, and local drivers say they’re concerned about the safety of the bridges they use in their regular commutes.

Pittsburgh City Council has responded by considering measures to create an infrastructure commission and require regular reports on the city’s infrastructure. Council members seem divided on those measures, as Councilman Ricky Burgess said he didn’t feel they addressed the root of the problem, which is a lack of funding for necessary infrastructure repairs.

Burgess this week introduced legislation to bolster those measures by creating a separate, but related, task force to find and budget money to support the city’s infrastructure needs. His legislation calls on the Joint Pittsburgh Infrastructure Task Force to find new funding to improve the city’s bridges and tunnels, as well as other infrastructure demands.

“What we need to do is we need to find the money,” Burgess said. “We already know our infrastructure is bad. We have some money coming down the pike, but not enough. We need to have that conversation about new funding streams.”

Conversations about investing in the city’s infrastructure should focus on ensuring money is distributed equitably, he said.