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Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
| Market Street Bridge | Arch (Cast Iron) | Market Street | Fayette County, PA | Brownsville | Dunlaps Creek |
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Technical Facts |
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Construction Date |
Rehabilitation Dates |
Structure Length | Deck Width | Builder |
| 1839 | 1920, 1981 | 84 Feet | 37 Feet | U.S. Army Corp of Engineers |
Well, they don't come any older than this! The date is not a typo, this is a metal bridge built in 1839, of cast iron, and unbelievably, it remains open to traffic today and even without excessive restrictions! Not only is it the oldest iron bridge in the United States, it was the first cast iron bridge ever built in the country. As you seem to find with the extremely old metal bridges like the famous Firth of Forth bridge in Scotland, tubular-shaped elements were used on the Market Street Bridge, in particular the main arch. The spandrels and other original bracing for the bridge are star-shaped elements.
As if its age was not enough significance, this bridge is associated with a historic highway. This bridge was built to carry the famous Cumberland Road, which was later renamed to the National Road. As the latter name implies, this was a significant corridor of travel in the earlier years of the United State's development. If people call Route 66 the mother road, I guess this would have to be the father road. The National Road is one of the roads that got people out to the Midwest in the first place. Near the bridge today, there is historic National Road signage for people wishing to travel the closest approximation to the route. In general US-40 also follows the path of the National Road, although the exact alignment is a bit different in some places. For instance, Market Street no longer carries US-40, although it once did.
This bridge is a perfect example of how a historic bridge can indeed support 21st century traffic. This bridge was widened in 1920 to the current 37 foot width present today. This modification is so old, it itself is essentially historic. The beautiful railings are from that 1920 modification, although some panels have been replaced with newer replicas in recent years. In the above photo, the panel closest to where I am standing, the front left panel, is one of the replaced panels. The other panels on that closest side to me are all original.
This bridge is one of the most annoying bridges ever to photograph. Until I visited this bridge in person, I couldn't figure out why nobody, not even HABS HAER, had a good side view of this bridge. It turns out a long time ago, indeed before the 1920 expansion of this bridge took place, someone built a building so large that part of it sits on supports right over Dunlaps Creek, right beside the bridge! You can't even see the whole bridge as a result! The 1920 railings are actually bolted with old-style bolts right to the building, so I assume the building was around in 1920. Although the building itself is probably historic, as a bridge enthusiast, I think they should tear the building down! Actually, if they could just somehow expose one side of the bridge so people can see the whole bridge that would be great.
