Winter 2022 | Vol. 4 | No. 3 A Report: Pittsburgh Bridge Showed ‘Major Decay’ Months Before Collapse By Ben DuBose Photos obtained via PennDOT fter a right-to-know records request from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Penn-DOT) (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA) released an inspection report completed on the Fern Hollow Bridge prior to its January 2022 collapse. That 100-plus-page report, 1 which was based on an inspection that took place in September and October 2021, pointed to major structural decay. “The overall physical condition is poor, as indicated by the condition ratings,” the report concludes. Despite these findings, no immediate repairs were ordered. The 447-ft (136.2-m) rigid steel frame bridge subsequently collapsed on the morning of January 28, 2022, injur-ing several people. The report from investigators at engineering company Gannett Fleming (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA) is re-dacted in parts, but it identifies areas of exposed rebar, as well as corrosion and holes in support beams and decay 1 3 4 7 8 in the deck. This allowed water to seep through. “The cross bracing is deteriorating due to malfunctioning drainage systems in addition to deterioration, contami-nation, and seepage through the deck concrete,” the report says of the three-span bridge, which was built in 1970 and owned by the City of Pittsburgh. “Areas of heavy corrosion appear below deck weepholes, with several missing or loose connection bolts.” Report: Pittsburgh Bridge Showed ‘Major Decay’ Months Before Collapse …………………………………………………………………… View from the Hill: U.S. House Introduces Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act ……………………………………………………………………… Shop Coat vs. Field Coat: The Pros and Cons ……………………………… Long-Term Performance of CP Systems on Bridge Structures ……… Lattice Tower Power Corrosion Management ……………………………… Durability of Sulfoaluminate Cement Structures …………………………… 14 U.S. Army Extends Contract for Non-Corrosive Deicer Development ……………………………………………………………………… 16 AMPP Infrastructure Education Course Schedule ………………………… 17 AMPP Infrastructure Books ……………………………………………………… 18 AMPP Infrastructure Guides, Technical Reports, and Standards …………………………………………………………………………… 18
Infrastructure Insights Fall 2022: Page 1
