The Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh collapsed earlier this year. Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) gave an update on the progress of the new Fern Hollow Bridge, and it is ahead of schedule.
“I think it’s coming (along) great, I think Swank (Construction Company) is doing a really great job,” said Susan Gitomer in an interview with WPXI. “I’m an architect and this was a major project so I understand the limitations sometimes trying to get something designed quickly and approved quickly.”
It has been nine months since the collapse has happened, and a great deal of work has been done to the bridge.
PennDOT began pouring concrete for the bridge deck two weeks ago. It’s done in sections and is now well underway. Next up is slab work, which will ultimately tie the roadway in with the bridge.
PennDOT executives said they’re actually way ahead of schedule for a bridge project like this, crediting the contractor for the hard work.
For commuters in the east end, and even neighbors who like to walk to the park, ahead of schedule is a great place to be because it’s a long detour to get around.
PennDOT says there’s a chance the bridge could open before the end of the year. But when it does open to traffic, it still won’t be complete. They’ll be doing more work such as adding lighting, pedestrian signals, and even some art in the spring.
The Fern Hollow Bridge repair was announced in March, 2 months after the bridge collapsed.
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Source: WPXI
