Erie County Times

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed a disaster proclamation. The proclamation is expected to give Pennsylvania's state government the ability to deal with the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse. Disaster relief is a top priority for the state government. 

Governor Tom Wolf signed a proclamation of disaster emergency for Allegheny County in response to the collapse of Fern Hollow Bridge in the Pittsburgh area. 

“I signed a proclamation of disaster emergency for Allegheny County in response to the collapse of Fern Hollow Bridge" Governor Wolf said in a post to his official Twitter account on January 28. "This bridge is a major throughway for commuter traffic and the disaster declaration ensures quick response for reconstruction.”

Governor Wolf also shared his thoughts in an official press release, talking about the importance of the bridge.

“With the Fern Hollow Bridge seeing more than 14,000 cars daily, it’s critical that we act quickly to reconstruct it so that commerce can continue and life is not interrupted” Governor Wolf said in the press release. “This declaration allows us to support the county in getting to work quickly, making funding available, and reducing red tape or other barriers to completion.”

The new proclamation takes measures to help the state government solve problems caused by the bridge collapse. The proclamation gives the green light to the state government to use any available means and personnel to manage this dangerous situation. Procedures that eat up valuable time such as bidding and contract regulations, in addition to other formalities mandated by law under normal circumstances, are also waived through the proclamation. 

The bridge is vital for commuter traffic, making getting it repaired in a timely fashion a top priority for the state, according to a press release.