CRITICAL CONNECTION
$123M committed to repair structure
Doug Smith, transportation planning director for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, tries to stay dry Monday as state and local officials announce plans to upgrade the Commercial Street Bridge on the Parkway East. PennDOT has committed $123 million to the project.
State and county officials announced Monday that $123 million will be committed to improving the Commercial Street Bridge, which carries Parkway East traffic over Commercial Street and the southern tip of Frick Park.
“The bridge is so important to this region, and we look forward to working with the public and local officials every step of the way,” said Leslie S. Richards, secretary of Pennsylvania’s Departmentof Transportation.
The 67-year-old bridge carries an average of 86,000 vehicles on Interstate 376 daily. The bridge already cannot carry overweight vehicles, officials said, and if the bridge’s condition deteriorates further, more weight restrictions could be put in place.
“This is obviously an extremely critical connection not only to the city of Pittsburgh, but really throughout the entire region,” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.
The funding commitment by the Wolf administration, which is part of a federal allocation, marks the beginning of the multiyear project. PennDOT has begun a study that will determine whether to rehabilitate or replace the bridge.
Monday’s news conference was held under the bridge on Commercial Street.
“It’s a beautiful bridge — even in its age you can see it,” Ms. Richards said. “We want to make sure the historic nature of thebridge is taken into account.”
“The city, county, state and federal government working together with our partners in the private sector want to make sure we get this project done in as less disruptive nature as
possible,” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.
State Rep. Paul Costa, who represents the 34th legislative district, where the span is located, said this project will undoubtedly be inconvenient for travelers.
“I’m asking people, please be patient with us,” he said. “We have to do these things. We’d rather inconvenience people for a little bit than, unfortunately, have a devastation that we’ve seen in other states where bridges collapsed.”
Officials said they are at the very beginning of the process, and that meetings will be held starting early next year.
“Transportation projects take a long time, especially one with a bridge as large as this and significant as this,” Ms.Richards said.
Although construction is still years away, officials said they will be keeping a close eye on the condition of the current bridge.
“If, at any time, we feel it is unsafe to cross this bridge at the current weight load, we will reduce it,” Ms. Richards said.
“Everyone should feel comfortable and confident while they are using this bridge.”