Biden Vows To Fix Aging Bridges At Site Of Pittsburgh Bridge That Collapsed Hours Before His Arrival

Topline

President Joe Biden on Friday vowed to repair aging bridges around the country during an unscheduled visit to the site of a two-lane bridge in Pittsburgh that collapsed hours before he arrived in the city to tout his infrastructure projects.

Key Facts

Biden said on the scene, “We’re going to fix them all,” referring to old bridges, adding, “We’re sending the money,” NBC News reported.

The collapsed Fern Hollow Bridge was built in 1970, and is one of 80 spans in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, that were rated in poor condition in a federal survey.

The accident occurred in the early morning, hours before Biden’s visit to Pittsburgh to promote the infrastructure plan that was signed into law in November. 

Biden had unveiled the infrastructure plan in Pittsburgh in March.

Pennsylvania will receive $1.6 billion from the spending package to invest in bridges, the third-highest amount for any state.

Overall, $27 billion will be spent to update bridges across the country.

Big Number

3,353. That’s how many bridges were rated in poor condition in Pennsylvania — the second most after Iowa—according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Key Background

Friday’s accident did not cause any fatalities, but 10 people sustained minor “non-life-threatening” injuries, three of whom were hospitalized, Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones said. Firefighters on the scene responding to icy conditions were among those injured. “Three or four” vehicles and a Port Authority bus were involved in the accident, Jones said. Rescuers formed a human chain to get to the site of the collapse to help people in the bus as other first responders rappelled nearly 150 feet.

Further Reading

Biden Visits Collapsed Pittsburgh Bridge: ‘We’re Going to Fix Them All’ (Bloomberg)

Biden visits collapsed bridge during Pittsburgh trip to promote infrastructure package (NBC News)

Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse: 3 People In Hospital, 7 Injured On Day Biden Is Scheduled To Discuss Infrastructure There (Forbes)