Safety & Security

Saw Mill Run Boulevard Bridge fix estimated to top $2 million; take up to 12 weeks

Feb. 17, 2022

The 600,000-pound bridge must be lifted back into position and replace components removed to stabilize the bridge after its shift was discovered.

Mischa Wanek-Libman

The Port Authority of Allegheny County (Port Authority) estimates it will take in excess of $2 million and between 10 to 12 weeks to repair the Saw Mill Run Boulevard Bridge, which has been closed to transit traffic since Feb. 4 when engineers noticed a joint on the deck of the bridge had expanded.

The Port Authority explained the 1,052-foot span’s shift of several inches was the likely result of water penetrating a portion of the concrete support structure and then freezing.

The repairs will be performed by contractors who will lift the 600,000-pound bridge back into position; and replace bearings, anchor bolts and portions of the concrete deck and slab that were removed to stabilize and gain access to the bridge. The Port Authority explains there is no threat to the road traffic below the bridge and the bridge remains stable.

The closure of the bridge has greatly impacted rail and bus service that use the bridge, particularly on Port Authority's Red Line, which is traveling via the Blue Line. However, Port Authority is taking advantage of the closure to accelerate work on its rehabilitation of Fallowfield Station.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.