Credit: Randolfo Santos
PITTSBURGH (PTTP) — At the beginning of the new year,on January 1, 2024. The city held a
ribbon cutting ceremony to announce the reopening of the Roberto Clemente Bridge. Like most
bridges in the city of Pittsburgh, the Clemente bridge had to undergo several renovations to
ensure the safety of the city.
After the closure of the bridge back on February 14, 2022, the bridge underwent a $35.6
million rehabilitation project. The bridge had several repairs that needed to be completed
from repairs to the structural steel and concrete/masonry, replacement of the expansion
dams, deck, sidewalks, and stairs to theThree Rivers Heritage Trail on the downtown side,
and the repainting of the bridge and handrails in the color Aztec Gold.
With the bridge being back in full swing at the start of the baseball season and the Pirates
being off to a great start there will be an overall increase in tourism. With the bridge being a
direct connection over the Allegheny River and overlooking the beautiful scenery of the city
and PNC Park. There is an expectation that the new bridge will bring the love back from
pirate fans and increase jersey sales by being a walkway from PNC Park to Pittsburgh attire
stores such as Rally House.
Speaking of love, the Roberto Clemente bridge was also the bridge where visitors would
lock in their love. As people interacted with the bridge some would put a lock on the bridge
to signify their love or a special moment in time. With the construction of the bridge, locks
were removed as it can place rust on the bridge. The locks now have a new home after
being donated to the Industrial Art Workshop in Hazelwood to have a new meaning on
display in the city.