Photos shows cranes lifting a 60-foot, 21-ton Port Authority bus and other cars from the wreckage of collapsed Pittsburgh bridge

Morgan KeithFeb 1, 2022, 10:21 IST

Cranes lift the bus that was on a bridge when it collapsed Friday during the recovery process on Monday Jan. 31, 2022 in Pittsburgh's East End.AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Workers have surveyed the site near the Frick Park bridge for clues about its collapse.
Following the collapse, residents near Frick Park are experiencing more traffic and longer commutes.

On Friday morning, a bridge in Pittsburgh's Frick Park collapsed as five vehicles and a Port Authority bus drove across, resulting in several injuries and damaging a nearby gas line.

Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones said emergency personnel rappelled at least 100 feet in order to save individuals who were on the bridge when it collapsed, all of whom survived the incident. Although there were no fatalities, the collapse caused 10 minor injuries, resulting in three people being taken to local hospitals, according to Mayor Ed Gainey.

"First responders worked quickly and effectively together, sharing resources and information," acting Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt said in a press release. "Their diligence ensured everyone on the bridge was safe."

Despite a "poor" inspection rating in September, the bridge's deterioration was not bad enough to warrant its closure

A crane is in place on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, as part of clean up efforts at the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh that collapsed Friday, Jan. 28.AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

During a September 29 inspection, the steel K-frame bridge over Fern Hollow Creek in Frick Park was given a "poor" rating, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Press Secretary Alexis Campbell told the Associated Press, which was not enough to warrant its closure.

The bridge was built five decades ago and had a 26-ton weight limit since 2014, Campbell told the Associated Press. City officials estimate that it may take at least a year to replace the bridge, ABC affiliate WTAE-TV reported.

During a September 29 inspection, the steel K-frame bridge over Fern Hollow Creek in Frick Park was given a poor rating, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Press Secretary Alexis Campbell told the Associated Press, which was not enough to warrant its closure.

National Transportation Safety Board launches investigation into bridge collapse

Vehicles that were on a bridge when it collapsed Friday are seen in the rubble during the recovery process on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 in Pittsburgh's East End.AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy announced on Friday that the federal agency would be launching an investigation to determine the factors that led to the bridge collapse.

On Sunday morning, an NTSB crash reconstructionist mapped out the scene of the crash using a drone, Homendy said during a press briefing.

"We did an initial inspection of the structure and the legs under the deck of the bridge. We want to see how the structure came to rest and we're looking for things like signs of corrosion, signs of fatigue cracking," Homendy said. "We're also looking to identify areas for closer examination."

The board will also collect and evaluate inspection reports, maintenance records, video footage of the collapse, and witness statements throughout the course of its investigation, Homendy said during the briefing.

"In addition, over the next coming weeks, we are going to put this bridge under a microscope. We're going to look at the entire history of this bridge from the design, construction, maintenance, repair, all work up until the day of the collapse," Homendy said.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy announced on Friday that the federal agency would be launching an investigation to determine the factors that led to the bridge collapse.

On Sunday morning, an NTSB crash reconstructionist mapped out the scene of the crash using a drone, Homendy said during a press briefing.

We did an initial inspection of the structure and the legs under the deck of the bridge. We want to see how the structure came to rest and we're looking for things like signs of corrosion, signs of fatigue cracking, Homendy said. We're also looking to identify areas for closer examination.

In addition, over the next coming weeks, we are going to put this bridge under a microscope. We're going to look at the entire history of this bridge from the design, construction, maintenance, repair, all work up until the day of the collapse, Homendy said.

While city officials seek federal funds for rebuilding, residents adjust to traffic and longer commutes

A car is lifted by crane during the recovery process on Monday Jan. 31, 2022 of a bus and other vehicles that were on a bridge when it collapsed Friday, in Pittsburgh's East End.AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Residents in the areas surrounding Frick Park are adapting to longer commutes with increased traffic as city officials assess the damage, according to the Tribune-Review.

On Sunday, Gainey signed an emergency declaration in order to increase the availability of federal funds, expedite cleanup efforts, and streamline coordination between local, state, and federal entities, according to a press release.

"The Fern Hollow Bridge collapse is a painful reminder of the condition of our bridges and a call to action to address our aging infrastructure," Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said in a Sunday press release. "As the City of Bridges, we know how critical our infrastructure is to working families. They are the connectors to jobs, to schools, to childcare, and more."

Residents in the areas surrounding Frick Park are adapting to longer commutes with increased traffic as city officials assess the damage, according to the Tribune-Review.

The Fern Hollow Bridge collapse is a painful reminder of the condition of our bridges and a call to action to address our aging infrastructure, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said in a Sunday press release. As the City of Bridges, we know how critical our infrastructure is to working families. They are the connectors to jobs, to schools, to childcare, and more.

Crane operator pulls 21-ton Port Authority bus from bridge collapse wreckage

Workers stand by the cranes that are being used to remove the bus that was on a bridge when it collapsed Friday as they work to remove it during the recovery process on Monday Jan. 31, 2022 in Pittsburgh's East End.AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

As the sun set over Frick Park on Monday, an operator used equipment donated by Allegheny Crane Rental to pull the 60-foot, 21-ton Port Authority bus from the wreckage of the collapse site as onlookers took videos and photos, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

After removing 125 gallons of fuel from the bus, city employees secured it with cables and towed it up the slope onto Forbes Avenue, according to the Tribune-Review. The process took approximately 20 minutes.

Other vehicles on the bridge at the time of the collapse were also removed from the site.

Following the cleanup, city officials created a viewing area of the collapse site and reopened Frick Park

Some workers use ladders placed along the sides of the bus that was on a bridge when it collapsed Friday as they position the lifting apparatus to remove it as others in a crane suspended basket help position the mechanisms during the recovery process on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 in Pittsburgh's East EndAP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Citiparks, Pittsburgh's Parks and Recreation Department, announced the reopening of Frick Park on Monday afternoon.

While certain areas of the park near the collapse site will remain closed, the city's Public Safety Department said in a tweet that it has established an area for the public to safely observe the site on Squirrel Hill. The designated viewing area will be open from dusk until dawn, according to the department.