|
 |
|
| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date and Builder/Engineer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Strawberry Mansion Bridge
Fairmount Park Trolley Bridge | Strawberry Mansion Drive Over Schuylkill River and Various Streets | Philadelphia: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania | Metal Three-Hinged Solid Ribbed Spandrel Braced Deck Arch, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal Rivet-Connected Warren Deck Truss, Fixed | 1897 By Builder/Contractor: Phoenix Bridge Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania and Engineer/Design: Theodore Cooper |
| Technical Facts |
| Rehabilitation Date | Main Span Length | Structure Length | Roadway Width | Main Spans | Approach Spans | NBI Number |
| 2025 | 200 Feet (61 Meters) | 1242.2 Feet (378.6 Meters) | 32.2 Feet (9.8 Meters) | 4 | 6 | 677301016001150 |
The Strawberry Mansion Bridge is a beautiful structure that
along with other historic bridges along historic Fairmount Park, help make the
park the unique asset to the city that it is. The bridge is a contributing
structure to the Fairmount Park National Historic District. The bridge is
extremely significant as a larger, early, and rare example of a spandrel braced
metal deck arch bridge. The bridge retains ornate original railings. For a
detailed history of this bridge and a discussion of its significance, be sure to
read the HAER documentation for the bridge.
This bridge has been very nicely maintained and rehabilitated by the City of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania's two largest cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh both do a great job maintaining many of their historic bridges, a sharp contrast to the rampant demolition of historic bridges that goes on elsewhere in the state, where the fate of historic bridges is largely in the hands of PennDOT. The fact that a bridge like the Strawberry Mansion Bridge stands today in good condition and in a state of preservation calls into question PennDOT's policy that nearly all of Pennsylvania's historic bridges cannot efficiently and feasibly be rehabilitated for continued vehicular use.
Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge InventoryDiscussion of Bridge The 10 span, 1,242'-long, steel bridge is composed of three, 3 hinge arch spans and 7 spans of approach deck trusses. Detailed metal railings are present on each side of the bridge. The bridge is a technologically significant example of its type and design, and it is a contributing resource to the character and historical development of Fairmount Park. It originally carried vehicular and street railway traffic. Discussion of Surrounding Area The Strawberry mansion bridge carries a 4 lane road over the Schuylkill River and Kelly and West River Drives in Fairmount Park, a NR-listed district. The bridge is currently closed to traffic [back in 1996]. Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes, Contributing To Historic District |
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.
|
Bridge Photo-Documentation
Original / Full Size Photos |
A collection of overview and detail photos. 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. |
|
|
Bridge Photo-Documentation
Mobile Optimized Gallery |
A collection of overview and detail photos. 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 |
© Copyright 2003-2013, HistoricBridges.org. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: HistoricBridges.org is a volunteer group of private citizens. HistoricBridges.org is NOT a government agency, does not represent or work with any governmental agencies, nor is it in any way associated with any government agency or any non-profit organization. While we strive for accuracy in our factual content, HistoricBridges.org offers no guarantee of accuracy. Information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Information could include technical inaccuracies or errors of omission. Opinions and commentary are the opinions of the respective HistoricBridges.org member who made them and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone else, including any outside photographers whose images may appear on the page in which the commentary appears. HistoricBridges.org does not bear any responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of this or any other HistoricBridges.org information. Owners of bridges have the responsibility of correctly following all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, regardless of any HistoricBridges.org information.
