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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Your support makes all the difference.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.
Bridge rated in poor condition
The Forbes Avenue bridge was rated in poor condition as far back as 2011 according to the National Bridge Inventory. At the end of 2021 a similar rating was ascribed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation during its last inspection in September.
The Post Gazette reports: “According to the state Department of Transportation, Allegheny County has the highest number of bridges in poor condition, as well as the highest number of bridges overall. In the county, 8 per cent — 96 of 1,186 — of state road bridges are listed in poor condition. Another 20 per cent — 80 of 397 — of local road bridges are listed in poor condition.”
This is a nationwide problem as President Joe Biden will likely address this afternoon. The American Society of Civil Engineers said in a 2021 report that 46,154 bridges were considered in poor condition, or about 7.5 per cent of the country’s 617,000 bridges.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced late this morning that it is sending a go-team to the scene. The team, headed by NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, is expected to arrive on Friday afternoon.
Secretary Buttigieg: ‘We’re not wasting a minute’ on infrastructure
Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweets: “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was passed two months ago and we’re not wasting a minute: communities have been waiting for this moment for years, and we’re working hard to deliver.”
Video shows how bus didn’t fall further into ravine
Lt Gov Fetterman greets Biden in shorts
Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman told Bloomberg that he would not be at President Joe Biden’s event this afternoon due to a scheduling conflict.
However, he said he was delighted to greet the president at the site of the bridge collapse.
Mr Fetterman, who is running for the US Senate as a Democrat, is usually easy to spot in a crowd given that he is six foot nine inches tall. He also has a tendency to wear shorts and hoodies, even in the depth of winter, much to the delight of many Pennsylvanians.
First responders form human chain to rescue people
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.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
First responders form human chain to rescue people from Pittsburgh bridge collapse
‘Firefighters that were here initially on the scene ... did like a daisy chain with hands just grabbing people and pulling them up,’ fire chief says
Pool report of Biden visit to bridge collapse
From the White House pool report:
POTUS stopped at one end of the collapsed bridge to visit with first responders and local and state officials for an impromptu briefing on the collapse. He was accompanied at the site by Sen Bob Casey, Rep Conor Lamb, Lt Gov John Fetterman and others.
POTUS spent time looking across the snow-covered chasm where the bridge once stood. The red bus that was on the bridge when it collapsed could still be seen from the edge, which has been roped off with yellow police tape. A pickup truck with a crumpled front end was also sitting on top of the collapsed bridge deck, along with a black sedan and two other overturned cars.
There was no smell of gas, though police told POTUS that they were unsure whether the bridge collapse was caused by an explosion in the gas line or if the gas line leaked after the collapse.
Light snow was falling as the motorcade made its way to the edge of the bridge. POTUS greeted some police and fire officials in front of yellow earth moving equipment parked along the side of the road.
Biden touring university manufacturing facility ahead of economic speech
Both Fetterman and Conor Lamb attending Biden event
As we wait for the president to begin his remarks in Pittsburgh, it should be noted that Lt Gov Fetterman has changed his plans and is at the event.
Also there is Conor Lamb, his main rival in the Democratic primary for the Pennsylvania US Senate seat. The primary is scheduled for 17 May 2022.
Lt Gov candidate Brian Sims says infrastructure can’t wait
Pennsylvania state representative Brian Sims, candidate for lieutenant governor and LGBTQ+ activist, tweets: “Today’s bridge collapse in Pittsburgh is tragic and frightening. I’m glad to hear there were no fatalities, and I’m wishing those injured a quick recovery.”
He adds: “No one in Pennsylvania should be scared to drive over a bridge or walk across a street. Our communities can’t wait any longer for inaction. It’s time to invest in fixing PA’s broken infrastructure.”
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