Fern Hollow Bridge Collapse Settlement Reached

PITTSBURGH, PA — The city has reached a financial settlement with the victims of the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse, which drew national attention when it fell into a Frick Park ravine in January 2022.

Pittsburgh Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak said in a statement Friday morning that he has forwarded a resolution to City Council authorizing a payment of the full liability of $500,000 to the victims. Ten people were injured in the spectacular collapse, some seriously.

"Now, the matter rests before the Court for its action pursuant to the Rules of Civil Procedure, and we await its decision so we the City and the plaintiffs may bring this matter to a close," Pawlak said.

The National Transportation Safety Board ruled in February that the Forbes Avenue bridge connecting Squirrel Hill and Regent Square should have been closed before it collapsed.

The NTSB determined that local officials repeatedly ignored maintenance and repair reports, some of which dated back to 2005. The failure to address those reports caused the bridge to deteriorate and eventually fall into Frick Park.