Mount Washington. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Famous for its inclines, cliffside restaurants and incredible views, steep Mt. Washington has also been plagued by landslides that often close the roadways below.

To help address this dangerous problem, the City of Pittsburgh just received a $9,998,250 grant from the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“Support for infrastructure upgrades is one of the most important ways the federal government can partner with Pittsburgh and will help preserve this historic asset beloved by residents and tourists alike for years to come,” says Mayor Peduto.

After 10 years of landslide issues, the grant will fund efforts such as the construction of retaining walls and engineered slopes, repairing landslide damage and promoting slope stability. The project will also include collecting water to stop steerage into underlying soils to reduce future erosion.

The work will focus on three locations along Grandview Avenue, Greenleaf Street and William Street.

“I have been working for some time to secure federal funding to address landslide threats in Mt. Washington and other parts of our community, so I’m very pleased that the city was awarded the funds to move forward with this vitally important project,” says U.S. Representative Mike Doyle. “I will continue to work to secure additional federal assistance for preventing and remediating landslides in Pittsburgh.”

Michael Machosky is a writer and journalist with 18 years of experience writing about everything from development news, food and film to art, travel, books and music. He lives in Greenfield with his wife, Shaunna, and 10-year old son.