BRIDGE RESCUE: Liberty Bridge fire will cost the contractor

A spark led to a buckle, and that buckle created a blockage that will be costly.

The Pennsylvania DOT has assessed fire damage to the Liberty Bridge at more than $3 million, which according to the contract will be charged to contractor Joseph B. Fay.

Fay was working an $80 million renovation project on the Liberty Bridge in Pittsburgh when a spark from a blowtorch lit plastic piping and a tarp on fire. The inferno, which was extinguished in less than 30 minutes by the Pittsburgh Fire Department, caused a 30-ft steel beam to buckle. The bridge was closed for weeks, and Fay was charged for every day the span was not accessible to traffic.

Jacks and a heating process were used to fix the damaged beam, and the bridge was re-opened on Sept. 27.