Pittsburgh bridge collapse - Biden delivers infrastructure remarks and promises to ‘fix them all’
Injuries were reported on the scene after roadway plunged into the ravine
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A bus and several cars plummeted into a ravine as the Forbes Avenue Bridge in Pittsburgh’s Frick Park collapsed at around 6am on Friday.
Pictures from the area show the cracked, snow-covered bridge lying in the Fern Hollow gorge, with emergency services on the scene.
Despite several vehicles being thrown from the bridge as it collapsed, emergency services reported there had been no fatalities, while paramedics reported 10 people had suffered injuries, including one firefighter who was being treated at the scene, Trib live reported.
Rescuers rapelled down 150ft to reach the site and a human chain was formed to help people to safety from a city bus that was crossing the bridge at the time.
Following the collapse a gas line was cut and it took almost 30 mins to shut the pipeline down as neighbouring houses and businesses were evacuated.
The collapse of the bridge came just hours before President Joe Biden arrived in Pittsburgh, known as the City of Bridges, to discuss plans to improve the country’s infrastructure. He visited the site of the disaster with Mayor Ed Gainey and met with first responders.
Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg is monitoring the situation and is also set to speak about infrastructure at an event in Kansas later today.
Secretary Buttigieg ‘closely monitoring situation'
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is closely monitoring the situation at Frick Park.
He tweeted: “Closely monitoring the situation at Frick Park Bridge in Pittsburgh, and grateful for the first responders on scene. Our Department is in touch with @PennDOTNews and local authorities to offer our support. @USDOT stands ready to assist.”
Rep Mike Doyle says collapse is ‘tragic example' of why investment in infrastructure is needed
Mike Doyle, US member of Congress representing Pennsylvania’s 18th District, tweets: “The Forbes Avenue bridge collapse is a major challenge for our community. It will disrupt transportation in PGH for months at least. I’ve been in touch with the White House, @gainey_ed and @ACE_Fitzgerald to ask for help and facilitate coordination on rebuilding it.”
He adds: “This is a tragic example of why the #infrastructure bill Congress just enacted is needed. We should be constantly investing MORE in our infrastructure so our bridges and other public works don’t reach this point of disrepair.”
‘A lot of work ahead’ to restore major transport artery
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald notes that while the city is fortunate no lives were lost, there is a lot of work ahead to restore a major artery in the city’s transportation network.
Buttigieg in Kansas on Friday to launch infra grant program
The US Transportation Department said on Friday it was opening a $1.5bn grant program for a wide range of infrastructure projects.
In November, the department awarded 90 projects in 47 states a total of $1bn.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the funds will “support more projects than ever, and help make our transportation system safer, more accessible, and more sustainable for people across the country.”
Under the $1 trillion infrastructure bill signed into law by President Joe Biden, the Transportation Department will receive $660bn over five years, including $210.5bn to be awarded in competitive grants. Of that $71bn is for new grant programs.
Mr Biden has made rebuilding US infrastructure a key part of his domestic agenda.
The department will evaluate proposals on safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, economic competitiveness, state of good repair, partnership and innovation, mobility and community connectivity.
Mr Buttigieg will be in Kansas on Friday to discuss the new grant program.
Environmental groups like the Sierra Club say the US must do more than just rebuild existing roads and bridges but must also reduce the number of single-passenger vehicles and dramatically improve public transit.
The grants awarded under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) last year went to rebuild roads and add rail lines — and to create new green space, trails, bike lanes and safer streets for pedestrians as well as dedicated bus lanes and dock replacements.
Seattle received $20m to reconstruct a 1.1-mile road segment and add a bike lane. Washington County, Oregon received $12.2m for a 15-mile trail.
Charlotte, North Carolina received $15m to construct a new multimodal transit center and New Orleans won $18.5m to improve transit fare collection.
Applications for the new grants are due by April, with awards to be announced by August.
Reuters
‘I’m speechless'
Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman spoke with CNN while at the scene of the bridge collapse, saying he was “speechless” looking out over the aftermath of the incident which he described as “surreal”.
He added: “Thankfully the schools were on a two-hour delay for weather so the traffic was less than it would have been normally.”
Mr Fetterman, a Democrat, is also running for the Senate and tweeted out a campaign video from a previous run for that office in 2016 in which he noted there were “broken bridges around every corner”.
He added: “That’s why President Biden passing BIF in 2021 was so important. I don’t know how anyone can look at today’s disaster and think we can afford to wait on investing more in infrastructure.”
Firefighters formed human chain to pull people up from site
First responders formed a human chain to rescue people after a bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh.
The two-lane bridged collapsed before 7am on Friday, with emergency personnel rappelling down almost 150 feet (46 metres), while other first responders formed a “daisy chain” – holding on to each other as they pulled people up.
“Firefighters that were here initially on the scene ... did like a daisy chain with hands just grabbing people and pulling them up. So it was a physical rescue,” Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones told reporters.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
First responders form human chain to rescue people from Pittsburgh bridge collapse
First responders formed a human chain to rescue people after a bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh.
Mayor Gainey speaks with President Biden
Mayor Ed Gainey tweeted: “I just got off the phone with President Biden. Thank you @POTUS for your support as we address the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse. I look forward to seeing you soon.”
Biden proceeding with Pittsburgh visit despite bridge collapse
President Joe Biden will proceed with his planned visit to Pittsburgh, despite a bridge collapse that injured at least 10 people.
The president was set to visit Pittsburgh and speak at Carnegie Mellon University to discuss the nation’s supply chains and tout his bipartisan infrastructure law.
Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.
Biden proceeding with Pittsburgh visit despite bridge collapse
The bridge collapse happened hours before he was set to visit.
Hospital: Injured are in 'fair condition’
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center says that four adult patients required treatment following the bridge collapse, but all are in “fair condition”.
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