Safety & Security

UPDATE: Saw Mill Run Boulevard bridge shift likely caused by water infiltration + freezing temps

Feb. 11, 2022

The Port Authority of Allegheny County will release a timeline of repairs next week.

The Port Authority of Allegheny County says a shift in a portion of the Saw Mill Run Boulevard bridge discovered Feb. 4 was likely caused by a combination of water infiltration and freezing temperatures. In an update published on its website, the Port Authority said its engineers and consultants determined “water that penetrated a portion of the concrete support structure of the Saw Mill Run Boulevard Bridge and expanded when temperatures plummeted below freezing is likely what caused the span to shift several inches.”

Transit operations on the bridge, which hosts seven Port Authority bus and Red Line trains, was suspended and detoured when the shift was discovered. An employee noticed a joint on the deck of the bridge appeared to have expanded. The Port Authority is working with third-party contractors on repairing the bridge and says a timeline for repairs is expected next week. The Port Authority will keep the bridge closed, but reiterates it is stable.

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.