Pittsburgh recently released its Bridge Asset Management Program and other initiatives to address equitable regional infrastructure investment.
“Our city’s infrastructure connects working families to jobs, education, opportunities, and a future,” Mayor Ed Gainey said. “Making much-needed investments into our city’s infrastructure ensures that we are strengthening our communities, creating good-paying jobs, and making our economy more sustainable, resilient, and just.”
As part of the Bridge Asset Management Program, the city hired a bridge asset manager who will lead an office dedicated to ensuring the safety and integrity of city-owned bridges. The manager will be tasked with developing a list of immediate/near-term bridge repairs, creating an asset management plan for each bridge, and submitting recommendations for the successful implementation of the asset management plan. This includes the creation of the Bridge Maintenance Division.
The bridge asset manager will report to the city’s chief operating and administrative officer and update Gainey by October on the current conditions and safety of bridges.
In partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the city will inspect the Swindell Bridge every six months, starting this month. If an inspector deems the bridge unsafe, the city will close it immediately. Short-term repairs manage water issues that have caused damage.