PennDOT invests $25.3 million to rebuild Fern Hollow Bridge – CBS Pittsburgh

By: KDKA-TV News Staff
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – PennDOT will invest $25.3 million to rebuild the collapsed Fern Hollow Bridge.
READ MORE: Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse: Port Authority bus is removed from Frick Ravine Park
PennDOT said the Federal Highway Administration approved the authorization request to begin preliminary engineering plans this morning. Federal funding comes from bipartisan infrastructure legislation, a spokesman said.
Governor Tom Wolf also signed a declaration of disaster emergency, allowing the state to finance Allegheny County and reduce red tape.
Councilman Corey O’Connor said the money to rebuild is not in the budget, and the city will rely heavily on state and federal funding.
Meanwhile, the investigation into what caused the bridge collapse will be lengthy and technical, the National Transportation Safety Board said. They will use drone footage and ground inspectors to examine the footings under the bridge deck, looking for signs of corrosion, fatigue and cracking.
No one was killed but 10 people were injured when the bridge collapsed early Friday morning, just hours before Biden was due to arrive in Pittsburgh to highlight infrastructure legislation that currently funds reconstruction.
PennDOT said the city owns and maintains the bridge, but it is “actively engaged” in the response to the collapse.
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It could take up to two years to fix, O’Connor said.
https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2022/01/31/penndot-investment-rebuild-fern-hollow-bridge/ PennDOT invests $25.3 million to rebuild Fern Hollow Bridge – CBS Pittsburgh