Sunday, October 2, 2022

(1963) 1969,1986 I-279 Fort Duquesne Bridge over Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, PA

(Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridgespghbridges; B&T; 3D Satellite)

The bridge was started in 1958 and finished in 1963. But that completion date is in parenthesis in the title because it was a bridge to nowhere on the north end! In 1969 some ramps finally connected it to one highway and in 1986 some additional ramps connected it to other highways. [pghbridges] The delays were caused by problems with acquiring the right-of-way. [B&T]

20220817 1084, taken from the parking lot for the Duquesne Incline

A view from the top of the incline. The Fort Duquesne Bridge is the tied-arch bridge on the left.



The first of the Three Sisters is the Roberto Clemente (6th Street) Bridge and the next two are the Andy Warhol and Rachel Carson Bridges.


The Fort Duquesne Bridge is the one on the left.

Bridge & Tunnels posted
In a city of bridges, Fort Duquesne Bridge stands out for being -the- Bridge to Nowhere for years.
Carrying Interstate 279 over the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Fort Duquesne Bridge's main span and south approach were completed in 1963 while its northern approaches were not finished until 1969 and 1986 when connections to the East Street Valley Expressway (Interstate 279) and North Shore Expressway (Interstate 279 and PA Route 28) were finished.
The crossing was notable for one incident that occurred on December 12, 1964, when a student from the University of Pittsburgh drove his 1959 Chrysler station wagon through the bridge’s wooden barricades, raced off the end of the bridge, and landed upside down. The student was unhurt in the incident.
▶︎ Check out more photos and a history of the Fort Duquesne Bridge at 


The Fort Duquesne Bridge replaced the 1915 Manchester Bridge, which replaced the 1875 Union Bridge.

1875 Bridge:
Bridges Now and Then posted
The interior of the Union Bridge, Pittsburgh, showing the roadbed, trolley tracks and walkway on each side, between 1874 and 1907. (Brookline Connection)
Dennis DeBruler: The Brookline Connection webpage is an interesting read:
https://www.brooklineconnection.com/history/Facts/UnionBridge.html

1915 Bridge:
HAER PA,2-PITBU,59--17
17. Charles W, Shane, Photographer, April 1970. VIEW FROM THE SOUTHEAST. - North Side Point Bridge, Spanning Allegheny River at Point of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA

I believe the building on the right side of this photo was the Three Rivers Stadium.
HAER PA,2-PITBU,59--24
24. Charles W. Shane, Photographer, April 1970. VIEW FROM THE SOUTHEAST. - North Side Point Bridge, Spanning Allegheny River at Point of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA

Significance: The Manchester Bridge replaced the old wooden Union Bridge, the first bridge erected at the Point and demolished in 1907. Both bridges spanned the Allegheny, connecting the Point of Pittsburgh to its North Side. The superstructure consisted of two Pennsylvania through-truss spans, each 531 feet long, with a clearance of 70 feet above harbor pool level. The designs of the bridge and the finely crafted, ornamental ironwork of the portals were executed under the direction of the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works. [HAER-data]

The clearance of the Union Bridge was just 40', and the Secretary of War ruled that was too low. [B&T]

Originally, the bridge was constructed with rolled beams that were welded together. But that caused "lamellar tearing" because the structure was too ridged and it didn't absorb temperature and load stresses. So they went back to using bolted splice plate connections. [pghbridges]
Street View






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