Inside the Community-Informed Effort to Quickly Replace Pittsburgh’s Fern Hollow Bridge

When the Fern Hollow bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, unexpectedly collapsed on Jan. 28, 2022, a major connection for residents was lost. Within days, however, a team was formed to replace the bridge, including design experts from HDR. And amid the crisis and fast-tracked process, it became clear there also lay an opportunity to create a better bridge for the community.

HDR Senior Project Manager Jason Fuller and Pennsylvania DOT Senior Project Manager Michael Szurley wrote about the project for Roads & Bridges magazine. The two shared how the accelerated project benefited from collaboration and teamwork, and they discussed how neighborhood and community engagement was a key component of the design from the beginning. Community feedback led to an increase in pedestrian space, a new signalized crosswalk and public art installations. And the neighborhood cheered on the team as work quickly progressed.

“Delivery of the massive bridge beams turned into a sprawling community event, as residents turned out to watch and applaud, and news helicopters followed their route to the site,” the authors wrote. “Routine project work became a public ‘parade’ of appreciation for the project’s expedited delivery and the reconnection it brings.”

Less than 11 months after the collapse, a new four-lane, 460-foot bridge opened to traffic in December 2022. Read the whole article, "Rebuilding Fern Hollow," in the May-June 2023 issue of Roads & Bridges.