11,000 Love Locks Being Removed From Pittsburgh Bridge

Pittsburgh PA

07 March, 2022

12:58 PM

Description

PITTSBURGH, PA — An era is ending on Wednesday as the contractor renovating the Roberto Clemente Bridge will begin removing approximately 11,000 love locks from the span, which is undergoing an extensive renovation. Using cutters and grinders, workers will periodically remove the locks throughout the restoration project as the bridge handrails are removed for cleaning and repainting. For those unfamiliar with the practice, love locks are affixed to a bridge or other public fixture by couples seeking to symbolize their everlasting devotion. It's unclear how long the practice has existed, though love locks started appearing in Europe in the early 2000s. "The Roberto Clemente Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges and locations in the country, so we understand why couples might want to symbolize their love by placing a lock there," Allegheny County public works director Stephen Shanley said. "That being said, our mission is to protect this important public asset from damage and to keep it as beautiful as possible. The locks make that job more difficult and costly." As the locks are removed, they will be donated to the Industrial Arts Workshop of Hazelwood. The nonprofit organization teaches students of all ages about sculpture creation and artistic literacy, including the fundamentals of welding, design, engineering principles, and safety standards. Industrial Arts Workshop executive director Tim Kaulen hasn't determined what will be created using the locks. "I am excited for the opportunity tor receive the locks, which are individual expressions from so many people who placed their thoughts and wishes in public," he said. "It doesn't take much imagination to visualize the web of connections between these locks and the journeys they took to reach such a special place in our community. I look forward to using the locks in a future public artwork that pays tribute to their origins and what brought them together on the Roberto Clemente Bridge." The Clemente bridge, linking Downtown's Sixth Street and PNC Park on the North Shore has closed last month for a $34.4 million rehabilitation. The bridge, which fans often cross on the way to the Pirates ballpark, has closed to vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic until the project is completed in December 2023. Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.