Bridge collapses in Pittsburgh just hours before Biden infrastructure visit

A snow-covered bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh on Friday morning just hours before President Biden is slated to visit the city for an infrastructure event.

The Pittsburgh Public Safety Department announced the collapse and said there would be a press conference later in the morning.

The department said police, firefighters and other emergency services have responded to the bridge that fell near South Braddock and Forbes avenues.

Three people were taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries while officials will continue to search under the bridge to ensure there are no other victims. 

The department said there was a “strong smell of natural gas” by the collapsed bridge and urged the public to avoid the area. 

A local area news station, KDKA, tweeted photos from the incident.

The gas line to the area as been cut, and the department has asked the Red Cross for help with victim assistance. 

The bridge collapse comes as Biden and other top Pennsylvania Democrats, including Rep. Conor Lamb, a Senate candidate, are set to visit the city for an event. 

White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that Biden is aware of the bridge collapse and his event will go on as scheduled.

“@POTUS 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,” Psaki stated. 

A number of other Pennsylvania Democrats, including Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a gubernatorial candidate, and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Senate candidate, had declined to attend to the Biden event, citing scheduling conflicts.

This story was updated at 9:14 a.m.