Bomb Threat Closes Major Pittsburgh Roadways During Rush Hour

Pittsburgh commuters rely heavily on tunnels and bridges as main routes into the city. On May 31, traffic came to a halt after someone called in a bomb threat against three major arteries of Pittsburgh.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police, about 4:45 p.m. on May 31, 2007, a male with an accent phoned a bomb threat into Allegheny County 911 service. The call came from a payphone on the city's South Side and threatened main roadways in the City of Pittsburgh. State Police have not decided whether they will release the tape of the bomb threat as part of an effort to find the person(s) responsible.

The man told an operator that a bomb would detonate in "a tunnel on the Parkway" at 6:00 p.m. Also reported was a suspicious package in a third Pittsburgh tunnel. As a result, the Squirrel Hill, Liberty, and Fort Pitt tunnels were immediately closed. Both PennDOT and State Police went into action to scan the Pittsburgh tunnels for bombs and suspicious items. Within an hour, all three were determined clear and reopened to traffic.

Thursday's bomb threat brought to light a huge dilemma for the City of Pittsburgh. Most traffic travels through a tunnel, over a bridge, or both, to get from one side of the city to another. Earlier this year, Pittsburgh City Council approved $589,300, from their Department of Homeland Security grant, to study the best way to evacuate the downtown area in an emergency. Critics say it is not enough. The City of Pittsburgh is vulnerable, and the public is concerned.

Talk shows were buzzing today with callers discussing the incident. Some could not understand why PennDOT cameras, which monitor the tunnels, do not record events. Dan Onorato, Allegheny County Chief Executive, spoke with Fred Honsberger of KDKA Radio on Friday afternoon. They discussed how security cameras would benefit the area, but opponents are concerned about censorship and individual rights. Both men agree that law enforcement did a good job. Onorato assured listeners that reviews are underway to see if anything could have been handled better, and if so, changes will be made.

Honsberger voiced his frustration that authorities spent Homeland Security money on a boat rather than completing the Mon Valley Expressway. He pointed out that should a bomb, or anything else, destroy the Fort Pitt tunnel; the expressway would serve as an alternate route for traffic around Pittsburgh.

One of the biggest fears of commuters is that they will be stranded if any type of terrorist attack or disaster occurs. Their fear is justified. Roadways in City of Pittsburgh, and Allegheny County, are inefficient. The lack of alternative routes compounds the problem. Thursday's threat reinforces the need for an effective plan. If Pittsburgh's traffic backlog on September 11, 2001 did not convince the area's leadership, then May 31, 2007 should.