Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) State Parks Director John Hallas today announced that the 121-year-old Kinzua Viaduct at Kinzua Bridge State Park in McKean County is set for a routine inspection this summer to check for structural and safety issues.
During the inspection, the bridge, known as the skywalk because of its glass floored observation area, will be closed to the public from sunrise to noon for several weekdays.
“The pedestrian walkway is routinely inspected to ensure it is safe for visitors, and to assist in future planning for maintenance and upkeep projects,” Hallas said. “There is still plenty to do at Kinzua Bridge State Park and the surrounding area – exploring trails, other observation areas, and exhibits — for morning visitors who are waiting for the bridge to open.”
The anticipated dates for the inspection are July 12-16, July 19-23, and July 26-30 to take advantage of favorable weather and equipment availability.
The skywalk will remain open sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Sundays.
Located in McKean County in the Pennsylvania Wilds, the focal point of the 339-acre Kinzua Bridge State Park is the skywalk, a pedestrian walkway 225 feet above the valley floor.
Prior to being a pedestrian skywalk, the viaduct spanned the entire valley and was once the longest and tallest railroad structure in the world. The bridge was previously used to transport coal, timber, and oil, and then later tourist excursion trains across the Kinzua Gorge. In 2003, a tornado partially demolished the structure.
Attendance at Kinzua Bridge State Park was more than 213,000 visits in 2020.
Find more information about Kinzua Bridge State Park and the Pennsylvania Wilds Conservation Landscape on the DCNR website.