Port Authority bridge in Mt. Washington to remain closed for repairs

Port Authority officials said a bridge that carries the South Busway over Saw Mill Run Boulevard in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington neighborhood will remain closed indefinitely.

Engineers on Friday discovered that a portion of the bridge had shifted, according to Port Authority of Allegheny County spokesman Adam Brandolph.

Red Line rail cars will detour via the Blue/Silver Line from Overbrook Junction to Downtown.

A rail shuttle will operate between Overbrook Junction to Potomac Station.

Bus shuttles will operate between Potomac Station and Station Square.

Bus detours are still being finalized and will be posted on Port Authority’s website and social media channels as soon as they are complete.

An employee that morning noticed a joint on the deck of the Saw Mill Run Boulevard bridge appeared to have expanded.

Brandolph said bus and rail traffic was suspended immediately. Engineers and a bridge consultant were sent to begin examining and surveying the joint for signs of distress and movement.

Brandolph said engineers determined that the bridge is stable, but that it must be repaired before it is used.

The cause of the shift has not been determined.

The Saw Mill Run Boulevard Bridge — sometimes known as the Palm Garden Bridge — is a 1,052-foot span built in 1977. It’s only used by Port Authority buses and light rail vehicles. Following the bridge’s last inspection in October 2020, it was rated satisfactory.

Port Authority, in coordination with third-party contractors, is developing a timetable for repairs.

Officials said repair work will involve of removing a portion of the concrete bridge deck to access the bridge’s superstructure; removing the existing anchor bolts and resetting the position of the bridge; repairing and/or replacing the rail joint; and replacing the portion of the concrete deck that they remove.

Crews will also need to make sure the overhead power lines are removed before construction begins and replaced once construction is completed, Brandolph said.