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Ambridge Bridge

Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge / Ambridge-Woodlawn Bridge

   

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Bridge Documented: July 3, 2006

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth and Rick McOmber

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Key Facts

	Bridge Name	Facility Carried / Feature Intersected	Location	Structure Type	Construction Date and Builder/Engineer
	Ambridge Bridge Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge / Ambridge-Woodlawn Bridge	11th Street Over Ohio River	Ambridge and Aliquippa: Beaver County, Pennsylvania	Metal Cantilever 22 Panel Multiple-Type-Connected Baltimore Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal 8 Panel Rivet-Connected Warren Pony Truss, Fixed	1927 By Builder/Contractor: American Bridge Company of New York, New York and Engineer/Design: T. J. Wilkerson of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

Technical Facts

Rehabilitation Date	Main Span Length	Structure Length	Roadway Width	Main Spans	Approach Spans	NBI Number
2000	530 Feet (161.5 Meters)	1995.2 Feet (608.1 Meters)	27 Feet (8.2 Meters)	5	5	04740200004001

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

View Historical Text About Woodlawn

View Historical Text About Ambridge

View Historical Text About American Bridge Company Works At Ambridge

This bridge is commonly referred to as the Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge for the two communities it runs between. However the plaque on the bridge lists the original name for the bridge, the Ambridge-Woodlawn Bridge. Woodlawn was a former town that later became part of Aliquippa.

This is a rare and unique cantilever truss bridge that features both pinned and riveted connections, and is one of an extremely small number of pre-1930 cantilever truss bridges remaining nationwide. The physical appearance of the end product is unique and significant. One would be hard pressed to find another bridge that looks like this. Most cantilever bridges have only two towers/piers. See the Rochester-Monaca Railroad Bridge for an example of how a traditional cantilever bridge is configured. The Ambridge Bridge has twice as many piers, giving it a very different appearance, and making the bridge's design extremely rare. The bridge's central span includes a suspended span held by cantilever arms. The span on each side of the central span is composed of two anchor arms. The end spans of the cantilever structure are composed of cantilever arms and a rare "half-suspended span" which is held at one end by the cantilever arm with the other end resting on a pier.

This bridge is also significant as is an essential part of the heritage of Ambridge. The name of Ambridge is no coincidence. It is essentially a company town formed in 1910 by the American Bridge Company, who erected a huge factory there, hence the name AmBridge. The builder of the Ambridge Bridge superstructure was indeed the American Bridge Company. The bridge stands today as a beautiful example of why the town of Ambridge came into existence and an example of the beautiful steel bridges that it produced. The bridge is historic because of its location near a town directly associated with its builder. In other words, the bridge's setting provides it additional historic value. Ambridge has also embraced the bridge as an icon of the community. The Ambridge Area School District has a logo that is shaped similarly to the truss shape of the bridge. Two variations of the logo are shown below.

The Ambridge Bridge is slated to be extensively rehabilitated in 2012. In addition to structural repairs, the rehabilitation will repaint the bridge. According to the contract the color of the paint will be grey instead of the current green.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory Discussion of Bridge The 1,908'-long, 8-span continuous cantilever thru truss bridge built in 1927 consists of 5 pin-connected main spans and three approach spans - an 8-panel, Warren thru truss suspended span and 2 stringer spans. The river spans consist of a 230'-long suspended span flanked by two symmetrical 150'-long cantilevered arms and 300'-long anchor spans. There are 175'-long, shore suspended spans each hung from 125'-long cantilevered arms. The bridge is supported on four concrete river piers, two concrete shore piers, three steel bents, and concrete abutments. The cantilevered sidewalk on the north side has a lattice railing. Many of the truss members including the upper chords of the anchors, some eye bars and verticals have been strengthened with additional members. The bridge was built for Beaver County, and it is a later and altered example of technology that was well known and common by the time this bridge was constructed. Its span lengths are not unusual for the bridge type/design. Neither the bridge nor its setting are historically or technologically significant. Discussion of Surrounding Area The bridge carries a two-lane street, a sidewalk, and several utilities over the Ohio River, a highway, a Conrail track and a CSXT (formerly Three Rivers Railroad) track. It serves as a link between the boroughs of Ambridge and Aliquippa. The American Bridge Co. yard is south of the bridge, and the former J & L steel mill at Aliquippa is to the north. Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Originally Found Not Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This finding has later been overturned and the bridge is currently considered Eligible, making the bridge officially historic.

Photos and Videos: Ambridge 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
	Westbound Crossing Full Motion Video	Streaming video of the bridge. Also includes a higher quality downloadable video for greater clarity or offline viewing.

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