As if getting into and out of Oakland at rush hour isn’t hard enough, the closing of the Panther Hollow Bridge to vehicle traffic has added one more impediment.
The span over Panther Hollow, just to the east of Phipps Conservatory, was closed on Oct. 19 “amid an abundance of caution,” according a city of Pittsburgh news release.
The move was made after recommendations from PennDOT and an inspection consultant. Since the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge in Point Breeze on Jan. 28, 2022, the city has taken an very cautious stance on bridge safety. “I made a pledge to the residents of Pittsburgh that I will not hesitate to close a bridge for the safety of our citizens,” Mayor Ed Gainey said.
The posted detour directs motorists to use Schenley Drive, and Wightman, Beacon and Hobart streets.
The 640-foot-long Panther Hollow Bridge was built in 1896 and refurbished in 1999. It was most recently listed in fair condition. There has been no official announcement about what problems were found in the inspection or when the bridge might reopen.
It joins the nearby Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge, which was closed abruptly on Feb. 1, 2023, to vehicle traffic. Since then, pedestrians and cyclists were able to cross the Anderson Bridge, which carries the Boulevard of the Allies from South Oakland to Schenley Park. But starting Nov. 4, it will close completely to allow the rehabilitation project to proceed.
The project includes repairing and strengthening the bridge’s historic truss, and replacing the deck and floor system on all three spans and the nearby Panther Hollow Overpass. Additional work includes modifications to the approach roadways and a realignment of travel lanes on the bridge deck. Once completed, there will be two outbound and one inbound lane, as well as a bi-directional cycle track.
The Federal Highway Administration is funding the project, which is expected to be completed in fall 2026.
— Susan Jones
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