Kittanning Bridge

"Citizens Bridge"

Most Recent Visit To Bridge: July 2, 2006

Visit Disappearing Bridge Page For This Historic Bridge

Key Facts

Bridge Name	Type	Road	Location	City	Crossing
Kittanning Bridge	Truss	US-422 Business	Armstrong County, PA	Kittanning	Allegheny River

Technical Facts

Construction Date	Structure Length	Main Spans	Main Span Lengths	Approach Spans	Deck Width	Navigational Vertical Clearance	Builder
1932	949 Feet	3	One 409 Foot Span, and Two 240 Foot Spans	1 Stringer Span	16.3 Feet	47 Feet	McClintic-Marshall Company of Pittsburgh, PA

This giant bridge is the sort of thing that makes Pennsylvania special, with its impressive arched Parker shape, and the extensive lattice and v-lacing on the massive-membered trusses. This bridge's trusses were used to form the suspension bridge filmed in the movie Mothman Prophesies.

In the Historic Bridge Inventory, this bridge was listed as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, although the comments by the surveyors do not seem to confirm that listing. I personally think the bridge is historic simply because truss bridges with riveted connections, and details like v-lacing and lattice, are no longer built on today's roadways. They are a dying breed due to things like this survey and PennDOT who feel these bridges are expendable.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The 1932, riveted, 4 span, 949'-long bridge is composed of 3 Parker thru truss main spans (1 @ 409', 2 @ 240') and one steel stringer approach span. Parker thru truss span with 400' lengths are not technologically challenging or significant. They are composed of larger dimensioned members. The substructure is concrete abutments and piers. It has no innovative or distinctive details. The bridge, the fourth at this location, was built to a State Highway Department standard design. The granite piers flanking the sidewalks at the portals are topped with Neo-Classical style luminaries.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a 3 lane roadway and sidewalks over the Allegheny River just west of downtown Kittanning, which is characterized by undistinguished commercial buildings from the early 20th century and infill construction from the mid and late 20th century, and West Kittanning. The Kittanning central business district lacks the significance and cohesiveness of a potential historic district.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes