Bridge collapses in Pittsburgh hours before Biden’s infrastructure visit

A bridge has collapsed in Pittsburgh, local authorities reported on Friday, just hours before President Joe Biden is scheduled to travel to the Pennsylvania city to tout the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package he signed into law last November.

Pittsburgh Public Safety officials warned residents in several social media posts on Friday morning to avoid the area near Forbes and Braddock avenues because of a “confirmed bridge collapse.” Personnel from the city’s bureaus of Fire, Police and Emergency Medical Services were responded to the incident.

Three people were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the public safety officials, and U.S. Army Reserve members are being deployed “to ensure there are no victims under the collapsed bridge.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf tweeted that his office was “monitoring the situation in Pittsburgh and prepared to provide support as needed.”

Public safety officials reported that there was “a strong smell of natural gas in the area” and later reported that a gas line had “been cut.” Officials also reported that the American Red Cross had been contacted “for victim assistance” and that a public information officer would provide any updates on injuries after arriving at the scene.

The White House told POLITICO in a statement that Biden still plans to travel to Pittsburgh on Friday despite the bridge collapse. In a longer statement provided to the White House press pool, the White House said Biden “has been told of the bridge collapse in Pittsburgh.”

“Our team is in touch with state and local officials on the ground as they continue to gather information about the cause of the collapse,” the White House said. “The President is grateful to the first responders who rushed to assist the drivers who were on the bridge at the time. The President will proceed with trip planned for today and will stay in touch with officials on the ground about additional assistance we can provide.”

While in Pittsburgh, Biden is scheduled to visit Carnegie Mellon University at Mill 19 and deliver remarks on “strengthening the nation’s supply chains, revitalizing American manufacturing, creating good-paying, union jobs, and building a better America, including through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” according to the White House.

Biden is scheduled to depart Joint Base Andrews for Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, at 11:30 a.m. and return to the White House at 4:20 p.m.