PennDOT Addresses Concerns Over Fencing Safeguards On Bridges, Overpasses

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Climbing through the East Street valley on the Parkway North and you'll notice every bridge has fencing - some rising straight and others curved in an arch.

But on the Wexford Run Bridge where a woman made the tragic decision to end her life, there was no fencing, which could have prevented it.

PennDOT's Dan Cessna says most bridges do not include fencing.

"Typically, fencing is placed on bridges over the highways if there is a sidewalk or another pedestrian feature, sort of to dissuade folk from throwing debris down on a highway," said Cessna. "So if there is a sidewalk over an interstate that would be a consideration."

The Wexford Run Bridge does not have sidewalks.

After the incident, the Northern Regional Police and State Police sealed off the left two northbound lanes for the investigation. The resulting back up of traffic was monumental.

It stretched all the way back 79 to the 279 split, and back 279 beyond Camp Horne Road in the heart of the afternoon rush hour.

The Northern Regional Police chief told KDKA's John Shumway that the coroner's deputy had a difficult time getting to the scene, and his detectives needed time to process the area.

Trooper Robin Mungo understands people get impatient with long closures at accident scenes, but she says it's necessary

"If anyone is ever a victim of a crash or loses a loved one in a crash, they are going to want us to do a complete investigation, so we don't cut corners," she said. "We're going to do a complete investigation, and if that means shutting down a highway, people, if they are the victim, they would thank us for that."

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