Traffic & Transit

3 Plum Bridges Among Allegheny County's Most Dangerous

PennDOT rated the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh in poor condition before it collapsed on Friday. Dozens of others are in similar shape.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy on the scene Sunday at the bridge collapse in Pittsburgh.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy on the scene Sunday at the bridge collapse in Pittsburgh. (National Transportation Safety Board)

PLUM, PA — The Fern Hollow Bridge over Frick Park that collapsed on Friday was rated in poor condition, according to PennDOT. There are nearly 80 others that have been given that designation in Allegheny County - including three in Plum.

That infrastructure issue isn't just a local problem. Of the 23,166 bridges in the state, 3,198 are classified as structurally deficient. That's nearly 14 percent of all of the bridges in Pennsylvania.

Overall, the state has identified needed repairs on 12,112 bridges at an estimated cost of $18.5 billion, according to the trade organization American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

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Those are sobering numbers after 10 people were injured when the Fern Hollow span tumbled into a ravine just before the early morning rush hour began Friday. The National Transportation Board is investigating the incident; a new bridge likely won't be ready for two or three years.

Is there a bridge near you that you should be concerned about? Perhaps.

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Here are the Allegheny County bridges that PennDOT considers to be in poor shape:

  • Pittsburgh: Milroy Street over I-279
  • Pittsburgh: Charles Anderson Bridge, Boulevard of the Allies
  • Pittsburgh: Route 51 at Ansonia Place
  • Pittsburgh: Calera Street, Hays (two bridges)
  • Pittsburgh: Second Avenue and Elizabeth Street
  • Pittsburgh: Liberty Avenue at Herron Avenue
  • Pittsburgh: Larimer Avenue over Washington Boulevard
  • Pittsburgh: Maple Avenue over North Charles Street
  • Pittsburgh: P.J. McArdle Roadway over Sycamore Street
  • Pittsburgh: North Avenue and Brighton Road
  • Pittsburgh: East Liberty Boulevard
  • Pittsburgh: Ridge Avenue
  • Pittsburgh: River Avenue Viaduct
  • Pittsburgh: South Negley Avenue by Centre
  • Pittsburgh: Verner Avenue, Brighton Heights
  • Pittsburgh: Swindell Street
  • Pittsburgh: Seventh Avenue Port Authority spur line
  • Pittsburgh: West Ohio Street at West Park
  • Pittsburgh: Route 51 at Tumberland Avenue
  • Pittsburgh: Centre Avenue at East Busway
  • Bethel Park: Highland Road
  • Carnegie: East Main Street
  • Collier: Steen Road
  • Collier: Campbells Run Road at Keiners Lane
  • Collier: Thoms Run Road
  • East Deer: Baileys Run Road
  • Elizabeth: Route 51 at Penn Oak Street
  • Elizabeth: Route 51 at Penneman Drive
  • Fawn: Thompson Road
  • Findlay: McClarens Run Road
  • Findlay: California Hollow
  • Findlay: Summit Park Drive
  • Green Tree: Trumbull Drive
  • Hampton: Clearview Road
  • Hampton: Naylor Road
  • Hampton: Wastesta Road
  • Marshall: Wexford Run Road
  • McKeesport: Ramp 2, CVX
  • McKeesport: Versailles Avenue, Ravine Street
  • McKees Rocks: West Carson Street
  • Millvale: North Avenue
  • Millvale: Fremont Street
  • Millvale: North Avenue at Lincoln Avenue
  • Millvale: Grant Avenue, North Avenue
  • Millvale: Lincoln Avenue near East Ohio Street
  • Monroeville: Old William Penn Highway over Thompson Run Creek
  • Monroeville: Abers Creek Road
  • Monroeville: Cavitt over Abers Creek
  • Monroeville: Thompson Run-Old William Penn Highway
  • North Braddock: Hawkins Avenue at Sixth Street
  • North Fayette: Hans Run
  • North Versailles: Spring Hill Road
  • O'Hara: Squaw Run Road
  • Pitcairn: Taylor Avenue\
  • Pitcairn: Wall Avenue
  • Plum: Universal Road
  • Plum: Booker Street
  • Plum: West Pine Valley Drive
  • Rankin: Kenmawr Avenue ramp
  • Ross: Jacks Run Road
  • Ross: McIntyre Road
  • Sewickley Heights: Near Fern Hollow Road
  • Shaler: Vilsack Road
  • Shaler: Wible Run Road
  • Shaler: Kay Street
  • South Fayette: Main Street
  • South Fayette: Robinson Run
  • Swissvale: Washington Avenue
  • Turtle Creek: Maple Avenue
  • Upper St. Clair: Painters Run Road (two bridges)
  • White Oak: Coulterville Road
  • Wilkinsburg: East Busway

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