Pittsburgh's Birmingham Bridge Reopens

Pittsburgh's Birmingham Bridge fully reopened on Monday after a pier dropped 8 inches in February.

Officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation met at the bridge on Friday to make the announcement.

Part of the Birmingham Bridge, which connects Pittsburgh South Side to Oakland, has been closed for several months after the pier discovery.

Crews had been working all summer to fix the problem.

Officials say rocker bearings, which are meant to allow the bridge to flex with weather and traffic, were unable to return to their upright position because of excess corrosion and debris.

Though more repairs must be done, PennDOT said lanes don't need to be closed. All work is expected to be done in January.

While the bridge will be open to cars and buses, southbound trucks must still follow a detour. Northbound traffic will be unrestricted.

Previous Stories: July 1, 2008: Study Confirms Rock Bearing Failure On Birmingham Bridge June 2, 2008: Birmingham Bridge To Undergo Repairs March 3, 2008: Birmingham Bridge Reopens To Traffic February 22, 2008: Portion Of Birmingham Bridge To Reopen February 20, 2008: Delay In Reopening Of Birmingham Bridge Reported February 15, 2008: Pedestrian Tapes Strange Noises On Birmingham Bridge Month Before Closure February 15, 2008: Northbound Birmingham Bridge To Remain Closed Several Weeks February 13, 2008: Bridge Repairs Hurt Local Businesses