Home

16th Street Bridge

   

Advertisements:

Promotions:   Chicago's Bridges   By Nathan Holth, author of HistoricBridges.org, this book provides a discussion of the history and virtual tour of Chicago's movable bridges. Dozens of photos.   Available Now Direct From The Publisher! The 5th Annual Historic Bridge Weekend will be held in Iowa and organized by The BridgeHunter's Chronicles this year from August 9th through the 11th. Details are available here.

Bridge Documented: June 12, 2004 and July 16, 2011

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth and Rick McOmber

View Photos and Videos

View and Link To Maps

Key Facts

	Bridge Name	Facility Carried / Feature Intersected	Location	Structure Type	Construction Date and Builder/Engineer
	16th Street Bridge	16th Street Over Allegheny River	Pittsburgh: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania	Metal Tied Braced Ribbed Through Arch, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal Stringer (Multi-Beam), Fixed	1923 By Builder/Contractor: Fort Pitt Bridge Works of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Engineer/Design: H. G. Balcom of New York, New York

Technical Facts

Rehabilitation Date	Main Span Length	Structure Length	Roadway Width	Main Spans	Approach Spans	NBI Number
2003	437 Feet (133.2 Meters)	1900 Feet (579.1 Meters)	38 Feet (11.6 Meters)	3	30	27301000020150

View Archived National Bridge Inventory Report - Has Additional Details and Evaluation

View a historical missing person article about the superintendent of construction for this bridge.

This is a stunningly beautiful arch bridge and arguably one of the most beautiful bridges in the city. The center arch is the largest span, with the other two being slightly smaller. This bridge has an extensive approach system of stringer spans. Large, decorative stone pillars at each end of the main spans of the bridge act as visual portals and have substantial decoration.

Fort Pitt Bridge Works is listed as a contractor for the bridge as well as Vang Construction Company of Cumberland, Maryland. Warren and Wetmore were the architects for the bridge and they were in charge of designing the architectural appearance of the bridge under the guidance of Pittsburgh's Art Commission which had significant power at the time to influence the design of bridges in the city. The controlling power that aesthetics had in the design of this and a number of other bridges in Pittsburgh is something so nearly unheard of in modern bridge construction that it seems almost mythical, the idea that not only should a bridge be beautiful, but that beauty should be one of the primary design factors for the bridge. The modern Veterans Memorial Bridge, located immediately downstream from the 16th Street Bridge contrasts typical modern bridge design where aesthetics and beauty are not given any consideration whatsoever.

Morris C. Sparks was, at least until December 9, 1921, the superintendent of the Vang Construction Company in charge of the construction of the 16th Street Bridge. An article in the March 1922 edition of the Baltimore and Ohio Magazine reports that he went missing on December 9th, 1921 and had not been found. A search for additional articles did not reveal if he was ever found or what happened to him. An interesting description of the man notes that he had a tattoo of a truss bridge on his arm, although it doesn't say if it was a specific bridge.

The historic integrity of this bridge is excellent with little to no alterations of the superstructure or substructure noted. During a 2011 photo-documentation, HistoricBridges.org was deeply disappointed to see an extremely distasteful and distracting advertisement for the Pittsburgh Zoo hanging on the portal bracing of this bridge's main spans. This advertisement is an ugly scar on the otherwise perfect photos HistoricBridges.org was able to take of this bridge. The 16th Street Bridge is like a work of art. Would it be appropriate to tape an advertisement for McDonalds onto the Mona Lisa? The placement of advertisements on this bridge defaces the visual integrity of the bridge. Allegheny County has done an excellent job maintaining the structure and its historic integrity, and it makes little sense to detract from the visual qualities of this spectacular bridge that they have so carefully maintained over the years. If the county does insist on placing advertisements on this bridge, HistoricBridges.org suggests that signposts could be erected for this purpose on the stringer approach spans for this bridge some distance away from the main spans where they would not detract from the main spans of the bridge which are the visual focus of the bridge. Further, any profits made from display of advertisements on the bridge should be exclusively used for the preservation of the existing historic bridge.

Photos and Videos: 16th Street Bridge

Available Photo Galleries and Videos

Click on a thumbnail or gallery name below to visit that particular photo gallery. If videos are available, click on a video name to view and/or download that particular video.

 

	Structure Overview Original / Full Size Photos	A collection of overview photos that show the bridge as a whole and general areas of the bridge. For the best visual immersion and full detail, or for use as a desktop background, this gallery presents the photos for this bridge in the original digital camera resolution.
	Structure Details Original / Full Size Photos	A collection of detail photos that document the parts, construction, and condition of the bridge. For the best visual immersion and full detail, or for use as a desktop background, this gallery presents the photos for this bridge in the original digital camera resolution.
	Structure Overview Mobile Optimized Gallery	A collection of overview photos that show the bridge as a whole and general areas of the bridge. View the photos for this bridge in a reduced size which is useful for mobile/smartphone users, modem (dial-up) users, or those who do not wish to wait for the longer download times of the full-size photos. Alternatively, view this photo gallery using a popup slideshow viewer (great for mobile users) by clicking the link below. Browse Gallery With Popup Viewer
	Structure Details Mobile Optimized Gallery	A collection of detail photos that document the parts, construction, and condition of the bridge. View the photos for this bridge in a reduced size which is useful for mobile/smartphone users, modem (dial-up) users, or those who do not wish to wait for the longer download times of the full-size photos. Alternatively, view this photo gallery using a popup slideshow viewer (great for mobile users) by clicking the link below. Browse Gallery With Popup Viewer
	2004 Bridge Photo-Documentation	A collection of overview and detail photos, taken Summer 2004. This photo gallery contains a combination of Original / Full Sized photos and Mobile/Smartphone Optimized (Reduced Size) photos. Alternatively, view this photo gallery using a popup slideshow viewer by clicking the link below. Browse Gallery With Popup Viewer
	Southbound Crossing Full Motion Video	Streaming video of the bridge. Also includes a higher quality downloadable video for greater clarity or offline viewing.

View and Link To Maps

 

Home

Top