Repairs to Port Authority bridge in Pittsburgh to be done by end of May, officials say

Repairs to Port Authority of Allegheny County’s bridge over Saw Mill Run Boulevard in Pittsburgh should be finished by the end of May, officials said Tuesday.

The bridge has been closed since early February when crews discovered that water coupled with the freeze and thaw cycle had caused part of the span to shift. The result was an “abnormally large gap” at a joint on the bridge deck.

Port Authority spokesman Adam Brandolph said crews have installed temporary supports and are preparing to install new anchor bolts, rail joints and bearings next week.

Repairs included lifting the 600,000-pound bridge back into position and removing parts of the bridge deck to gain access to portions that needed to be replaced.

While repairs continue, Port Authority will continue to run a rail shuttle between Overbrook Junction and Potomac Station, as well as a bus shuttle between Potomac Station and Station Square.

The 1,052-foot-long bridge carries buses and Red Line light-rail cars over Route 51. It has been closed since Feb. 4, forcing Red Line trains to use the Blue Line. A rail shuttle is operating between Overbrook Junction and Potomac Station, and a shuttle bus is running from Potomac Station to Station Square. Both run every 20 to 30 minutes, and neither is collecting fares.

The discovery of the shifted bridge came just days after the Fern Hollow Bridge that carries Forbes Avenue over Frick Park collapsed, sending a Port Authority bus and five vehicles more than 100 feet into a ravine.