One of Pittsburgh’s most questionable structures, the Swinburne Bridge that carries Frazier Street over Saline Street in South Oakland, will be closed for six hours Friday for a routine inspection.
The bridge, which has been rated in poor condition for more than 15 years and is scheduled for replacement, will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The inspection is routine and was not scheduled because of any new problem, the city said.
“In order to minimize traffic impacts, most of the inspection will be performed from beneath the bridge,” Eric Setzler, the city’s chief engineer, said in a news release. “However, we need to close the bridge for several hours to ensure we can fully inspect all portions of the bridge.”
The bridge will close after the morning rush hour and should reopen before the evening rush hour. The city’s suggested detour uses Greenfield Avenue, Second Avenue, Bates Street and the Boulevard of the Allies.
The 600-foot bridge, which carries about 6,000 vehicles a day, is expected to be replaced beginning in 2026 at an estimated cost of $26.1 million. That project will be coordinated with rehabilitation of the Charles Anderson Bridge in Schenley Park, which has been closed since February 2023. Work on the bridge started last week.
In the same vicinity, the city also is dealing with Panther Hollow Bridge, which was closed unexpectedly two weeks ago after an inspection showed problems with structural steel supports.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.