CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON CHARLES ANDERSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE REHABILITATION PROJECT
Completion Expected 2026
Pittsburgh, PA – Today, City of Pittsburgh and local officials met to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation Project. The project will recondition and repair the historic bridge that connects Oakland with Schenley Park and Squirrel Hill. A critical link on the Boulevard of the Allies that carries vehicular, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic over the Junction Hollow trails and CSX railroad, the Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge closed to vehicle traffic on February 1, 2023, in order to comply with bridge inspection findings.
"I made a pledge to the residents of Pittsburgh that I would not hesitate to close a bridge if it means ensuring the safety of our citizens," said Mayor Ed Gainey. "Thanks to our Bridge Asset Management Program, we identified the issues with the Charles Anderson Bridge early, allowing us to act proactively by closing it and beginning the necessary steps toward its full rehabilitation."
The rehabilitation project includes both repairing and strengthening the bridge’s historic truss, replacing the deck and floor system on all three spans and the nearby Panther Hollow Overpass. Additional work includes modifications to the approach roadways and a realignment of travel lanes on the bridge deck. Once completed, there will be two outbound and one inbound lane, as well as a bi-directional cycle track.
“Through collaboration with the state and the Federal Highway Administration, I was able to secure 100% federal funding, which enabled us to move forward with our plans for a full rehabilitation project of the bridge on an expedited schedule, which means that the Charles Anderson Bridge will reopen in 2026. Thank you to Rich Fitzgerald and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission for bumping this bridge rehab project up on the Transportation Improvement Program list (TIP),” stated Mayor Gainey.
The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure has partnered with PennDOT District 11-0, the Federal Highway Administration, Michael Baker International, SAI Consulting Engineers, Mosites Construction Co. and a host of other regional engineering consultants and construction contractors to deliver this exciting project.
“DOMI is excited to start work on this major rehabilitation project, which will preserve and restore a historic truss bridge while updating the deck to serve all modes of transportation. This project will allow the Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge to remain an iconic part of the Schenley Park landscape for decades to come,” said DOMI Chief Engineer Eric Setzler.
While previously the bridge was closed to vehicles on February 1, 2023, it will soon be closed to all pedestrians and bicyclists as the contractor prepares to remove the deck. The closure to all pedestrians and bicyclists is planned for November 4, at which time the bridge will be fenced off until work is complete tentatively in Fall 2026. The Panther Hollow Trail and Bridle Trail which pass below the Charles Anderson Bridge are to remain open except for intermittent, momentary stoppages in order to facilitate construction access and equipment.
The posted bicycle/pedestrian detour route is as follows:
Bicycle and pedestrian detour from South Oakland: Turn right onto Dawson Street, left onto South Bouquet Street, right onto Roberto Clemente Drive, straight onto Schenley Drive, straight onto Panther Hollow Road, straight to the bridge.
Bicycle and pedestrian detour from Schenley Park: Go straight onto Panther Hollow Road, straight onto Schenley Drive, straight onto Roberto Clemente Drive, left onto South Bouquet Street, right onto Dawson Street, left to the bridge.
###
|
