Pittsburgh’s West End Bridge to see accessibility improvements

Pittsburgh nonprofit Riverlife will provide $2 million for design and engineering to improve accessibility on the city’s West End Bridge.

The nonprofit last week announced the investment “to create accessible connections leading to the West End Bridge from the Manchester-Chateau and West End neighborhoods.”

In a statement, Riverlife said the infrastructure design aims to bring multimodal improvements to the historic span.

“We are working to create essential connections to neighborhoods historically disconnected from the river,” Riverlife President and CEO Matt Galluzzo said. “We are committed to inclusive, sustainable and artful infrastructure that will reshape the experience on the riverfronts across and around the West End Bridge.”

Galluzzo said the project was guided by community engagement with various groups, residents and businesses.

The effort is being underwritten by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County’s Trail Development Fund, which has provided almost $22 million in grant funding to countywide projects, such as creating new trail opportunities and facilitating local connections to trails and multimodal transportation systems.

Pedestrian access to the West End Bridge currently is “compromised by deteriorating staircases,” Riverlife said. Their project aims to improve the pedestrian link from the West End and Manchester-Chateau communities to the city’s riverfront.

“Connecting our residents, providing meaningful access to our county’s historical treasures and creating experiences that Allegheny County residents can be proud of and enjoy have always been a priority,” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.

Riverlife and its partners selected El Dorado, an architectural and urban design firm based out of Missouri and Oregon, for the design process.

“Investing in our city’s infrastructure is an investment in our neighborhoods,” City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, D-West End, said.

“The West End Bridge stands as a vital link, connecting neighborhoods and enhancing the overall vitality of Pittsburgh,” PennDOT district 11 executive Jason Zang said, adding that PennDOT would collaborate with Riverlife’s plans “to advance safe, efficient and innovative transportation solutions.”

A virtual meeting is slated for 6 p.m. Dec. 4 to further engage with the community on the project. An in-person meeting is set for 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at Pittsburgh Musical Theater. During the meetings, the design team will present preliminary layout options for the initiative.