"This bridge is a rare example of a suspended deck continuous through truss bridge. The bridge design is noted for looking like a trussed through arch, however because the truss spans that flank the pretend arch span in the center are connected to it such that they form a continuous structure, the bridge does not function as an arch, but rather functions as a continuous through truss bridge with an arched shape. The deck is then connected to the arch-shaped truss via vertical suspenders." [HistoricBridges]
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| Street View, Jul 2019 |
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| Street View, Dec 2021 |
It is the arch-looking bridge behind the K-Truss Speers Viaduct.
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| Rust Belt Railroading posted via Dennis DeBruler |
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| Google search results |
This 1950s photo catches the old and new road bridges.
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| jmohney via Bridge Hunter comment by Ian Anderson [This web page as some more bridge photos.] |
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| Jackson-Township historical preservation posted Photo taken from Speers Hill (Washington County) before the implosion of the old Speers-Belle Vernon Bridge. Beside the old bridge is the new I-70 Bridge authorized by President Harry Truman on June 22, 1946.The photograph was taken by Walter Otto in the mid 1950s. This photograph is on display at the Speers Street Grill located in Lower Speers. Lower Speers is the area shown below the two bridges on the near river bank and is across the Monongahela River from Belle Vernon. Extreme Southwet Monessen is visible on the hilltop. The Speers Railroad Bridge (also called the Belle Vernon Railroad Bridge) can be seen at the far left and carries the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway across the Monongahela River. The structure was originally designed by the Norfolk and Western Railway using a K-truss style that is rarely used outside of the Great Plains. The high-level span passes feature several smaller approach segments on the river's eastern bank due to the width of the valley. (Photo from Hank Devigne) William B. Hearn: The railroad bridge was designed to carry two levels of rails across the river. The lower level was never completed. However, on the Belle Vernon side, a concrete pier was completed for the lower set of rails and remains there today. The lower set was to be used by Pittsburgh Steel to transport steel slabs from the Monessen Mill to the Allenport Mill. They kept sending them to Brownsville and crossing the river there back to Allenport. The several smaller approach segments on the river's eastern bank mentioned were part of the mill rail line to their slag dump along route 201 & Vance DeCas Highway in Rostraver Twp. and part of which is still used today to stage full/empty coke cars from the remaining coke oven works at Monessen for pickup/delivery by W&LE. This section would have allowed the steel slab trains from Monessen to go up the line and then reverse to cross the lower rail bridge to Allenport. The I70 highway plans canceled the Monessen to Allenport route. |
It was silver and rusty in 2006. In fact, it was painted blue between Oct 2016 and Jul 2018.
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| Street View, Oct 2016 |
As HistoricBridges explains, the truss members are box beams with "hand holds."
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| Street View, Aug 2022 |
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