Based on an updated structural analysis, the Charles Anderson Bridge (Blvd of the Allies over Panther Hollow) has been closed to all vehicular traffic until repairs can be made. The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and bicycles, as will the Junction Hollow Trail, which runs below the bridge.

Needed repairs to the bridge will be undertaken as soon as possible to re-open the bridge to vehicles. DOMI estimates these repairs will take no fewer than four months and are projected to cost between $1M and $2M.

While the bridge remains closed, the detours are as follows:

• For eastbound/outbound vehicles: Boulevard of the Allies, right onto Bates Street, left onto Second Avenue, left onto Greenfield Avenue, left onto Ronald Street, straight onto Greenfield Bridge, to Greenfield Road, to Panther Hollow Road
• For westbound/inbound vehicles: Panther Hollow Road, to Greenfield Road, to Greenfield Bridge, right onto Alger Street, left onto Winterburn Street, right onto Greenfield Avenue, right onto Second Avenue, right onto Bates Street, to Boulevard of the Allies

The City of Pittsburgh, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), is advancing the Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge project.

The bridge is a critical link on Boulevard of the Allies, a roadway connecting Squirrel Hill and Greenfield to Oakland and downtown. The bridge also serves as a key entrance to Schenley Park, carrying the Boulevard over the Junction Hollow trails and CSX railroad.

The existing continuous, three-span, steel structure (built in 1939) is individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion C for its engineering significance as a Wichert Truss bridge. The structure is also a contributing element of the NRHP-listed Schenley Park Historic District.

This eligibility is factored into the preliminary analysis and design when determining what various bridge enhancements are feasible. In addition, care is given to reducing pain-points for those who use the bridge, i.e. how to minimize frustrating detours or overlapping construction with adjacent infrastructure projects. This project aims to modernize the Charles Anderson Bridge with an emphasis on safety for all users of the bridge. While the engineering will take several more years, we aim to provide updates on our progress, what you can expect during construction, and what to look forward to when it's complete. Questions, comments, and feedback can be submitted at the bottom of this page.

In the fall of 2019, DOMI and the design team held a series of public meetings to collect feedback and concerns from the communities who use the bridge or will be impacted during the rehabilitation of the structure. This feedback was instrumental in shaping the course of the preliminary analysis and design work completed on the project so far.

Investigation into the feasibility of rehabilitating the structure and preserving its historical features was just kicking off as the pandemic upended the existing channels for community outreach.

The feasibility study concluded that it is both feasible and prudent to rehabilitate the historical bridge while still improving upon the layout of the structure to reflect how Pittsburghers traverse Schenley Park today.

The City and the design team have created the following project update on Preliminary Engineering, available in PDF format, below. As Preliminary Engineering nears completion, work will transition from a broad technical analysis of the existing bridge and the surrounding site to the development of construction documents, drawings, and design specifications. This work will continue through 2024 with construction anticipated to begin in late 2025.

In light of the current closure, DOMI staff are looking into possible avenues for expediting the timeline of the project.

We would appreciate your comments on the presentation so we can best incorporate feedback into the engineering of the rehabilitation project.