Mayor Gainey will sign declaration of disaster emergency following bridge collapse

PITTSBURGH — Mayor Ed Gainey’s office announced that the mayor will sign a declaration of disaster emergency for the City of Pittsburgh for the next several days, following the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse on Friday morning.

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The declaration will increase the availability of federal funds, facilitate closer coordination between PennDOT and Department of Mobility and Infrastructure and speed up the cleanup and reconstruction process.

Mayor Gainey is also calling on the Pittsburgh City Council to extend the declaration.

The city announced its decision to become a party to the NTSB investigation. This will allow the city and all relevant departments to share information with the NTSB in support of their independent investigation, and receive information that can be used to improve safety.

“The Fern Hollow Bridge collapse is a painful reminder of the condition of our bridges and a call to action to address our aging infrastructure,” said Mayor Gainey. “As the City of Bridges, we know how critical our infrastructure is to working families. They are the connectors to jobs, to schools, to childcare, and more. As Mayor, I want the people of Pittsburgh to know that I will be working tirelessly to secure additional funding for our infrastructure needs. With the support of our county, state, and federal partners, we will build back better.”

Frick Park is closed temporarily, to allow the bridge collapse site to be fully secured. The city urges residents not to enter the park, as it remains a hazardous site.

Stay with Channel 11 News as we continue to cover this collapse, and the impact it has on our community.

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