Pittsburgh's Iconic Rachel Carson Bridge Closed for Repairs Until Summer 2020

One of the symbols of Pittsburgh's status as the Steel City and the City of Bridges will be closed for repairs for all of 2019 and a good portion of 2020 as well.

1 minute read

January 29, 2019, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Jeff Holcombe / Shutterstock

"The Rachel Carson Bridge, formerly known as the Ninth Street Bridge, will close for more than a year for rehabilitation work beginning in February," reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The 1926 bridge spans the Allegheny River, where it's one of a collection that clearly signifies Pittsburgh's reputation as the City of Bridges.

According to the article, the $23.3 million repair project will shut down the bridge on February 11, with the closure persisting until summer of 2020. "[W]orkers are expected to replace the concrete desk; make structural steel repairts [sic]; repaint the bridge in Aztec Gold; replace the current lighting with "architectural lighting" similar to the original; replace expansion dams and drainage; and replace the sidewalks."

Also, "the county said the reopened bridge will have three traffic lanes and wider shoulders rather than the current four lanes (two in each direction)."

Monday, January 28, 2019 in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

March 9 - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9 - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation