Swindell Bridge in Pittsburgh closed indefinitely after maintenance work damages drainage trough

The Swindell Bridge on Pittsburgh’s North Side will remain closed indefinitely until damage caused during milling and paving last week can be repaired, city officials said Tuesday.

The bridge, which connects Perry North to Northview Heights over I-279, underwent maintenance work last week but was shut down Friday when debris fell from the bridge to the highway below.

An inspection over the weekend showed that a drainage trough tore open under the weight of debris kicked up by the maintenance, city spokeswoman Maria Montano said in a statement.

She said the bridge will remain closed until the trough is repaired and the maintenance work completed.

The city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure will meet with a contractor this week, Montano said, but noted that “labor and material availability will need to be confirmed” before a timeline is set. The city will coordinate with PennDOT on any impact on I-279 traffic.

Other than the drainage trough, no other damage or deterioration was found on the bridge, Montano said.

The bridge closure also means that the Bureau of Fire has staffed an additional engine to “reduce the extended response time” caused by the closure, said Chief Darryl Jones.

The bridge was set to undergo more extensive repairs later this year, city officials said, noting that that project remained “in the planning phase.”

After the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Frick Park in late January, Gainey pledged an inspection of all of the city’s bridges.

During that announcement, the mayor addressed concerns he had heard from residents about the Swindell Bridge. He said at the time that a team had recently visited the span and another inspection had been scheduled for that month.