1903,1999 Three Rivers Heritage Trail/Pennsy Herr's Island Railroad Bridge over Allegheny River Back Channel in Pittsburgh, PA

(Archived Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; HAER; pghbridges; Satellite, 130 photos)

The official name is West Penn Railroad Bridge. Other names are South Railroad Bridge and the one I used in the title. [pghbridges] 

 

HAER PA,2-PITBU,70--2
Side view from west bank view southeast - West Penn Bridge, Pennsylvania Railroad, spanning Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA

"A distinctive structure, the bridge is skewed, which is uncommon for pin-connected through truss bridges. More rare however is the use of vertical end posts for a simple Pratt truss like this." [HistoricBridges]

This 1903 Pennsy bridge was converted to pedestrian use in 1999. The skew angle is 20 degrees. [BridgeHunter]

Brown Sugar, Dec 2019

Built to provide railroad access to Washington's Landing (formerly Heir's Island), the South Railroad Bridge has become a signature bridge in the City of Pittsburgh. The elegant double intersection Pratt truss frames a dramatic view of the City of Pittsburgh and the Allegheny River. [HAER_data]

Matt Torti, Jul 2020

Dave Kuntz posted four photos with the comment:

Herrs Island "Whipple" Truss Railroad Bridge near Pittsburgh.  80 years ago the island was so stuffed with railroad tracks and industry that I'm not sure if there was a single tree on it.  Today it's condos and parks and a few office buildings and a tiny rail trail that takes cyclists over to it.

Greg Roeder: Squire Whipple designed it, a Union college grad and prolific bridge designer. There's a Triple Whipple in Indiana (Laughery Creek Bridge ) that runs nearly 300 feet and still standing (used by pedestrians).

David Boyd: Where can you park to bike over the bridge???

Dennis DeBruler: I noticed this trail parking lot on Google maps. It is very close to this bridge: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FyieQh5YJHftJt2K8.

[Several comments discuss bridges designed by Squire Whipple]

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