WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Joe Biden left the White House Friday bound for Pennsylvania Friday to tout his $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law and the need to repair the nation’s roads and bridges. Hours before his trip, a bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh the very city he was set to visit.
The commander-in-chief toured the site and saw the damage first-hand.
Images showed the snow-covered bridge nearly snapped in half with a bus dangling over one edge. There were only minor injuries with 10 people hurt.
As local leaders say it underscores the desperate need for infrastructure investment.
“This bipartisan infrastructure law is critical to southwest Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. We know we have bridges we need to take of,” said Mayor Ed Gainey of Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania has more than 3,353 bridges in poor condition the second-highest in the nation.
The bridge that collapsed was inspected in September 2021 just four months ago it did get a poor rating.
Biden mentioned that there are 45,000 bridges in the United States rated in poor condition. “That is simply just unacceptable,” he said.
The collapse is still under investigation.