| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| Foxburg Bridge | PA-58 Over Allegheny River | Foxburg: Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and Clarion County, Pennsylvania | Metal Riveted Warren Through Truss, Stationary | 1921 By: Bethlehem Steel Bridge Corporation of Steelton, Pennsylvania |
| Technical Facts |
| Rehabilitation Dates | Structure Length | Roadway Width | Bridge Width | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 1982, 1985 | 538 Feet (164 Meters) | 14.1 Feet (4.3 Meters) | 15 Feet (4.57 Meters) | 3 | None |
The only thing that Pennsylvania and Preservation have in common is the same first letter!
This bridge is a Warren through truss bridge with riveted connections. The presence of v-lacing on the verticals, and lattice on the diagonals add greatly to the intricate appearance of this bridge. A plaque of the bridge lists the builder as Bethlehem Steel Bridge Company. The date given is 1921. The bridge sits on ashlar abutments and piers. The bridge once carried trains on the top, with an approach system which is now demolished leading trains to the upper deck of the structure.
There is something about this bridge that people seem to like. Even people who don't like bridges, still seem to see that this is a special bridge. Is it the unusual square shape? Is it the excellent tunnel effect if offers drivers? Is it the very impressive size of the massive members? Is it the fact that it once carried trains on top like a deck truss, while vehicles traveled beneath like a through truss? It is unclear, but a lot of people seem to enjoy seeing this bridge. Except for PennDOT and the Foxburg town council. All of them are realizing their dream of seeing this unique treasure wiped off of the face of the earth, and having a bland slab of concrete and steel for a bridge, forever marring the serene view of the beautiful river. How will the restaurant that overlooks the bridge in Foxburg advertise then? Come eat, while admiring the New Jersey Barriers of our bridge?! Not to be mean to Foxburg, but there is really not whole lot in the town to attract people over the river other than the bridge. The bridge should be turned into the highlight of Foxburg. As it stands the bridge is the highlight of Foxburg. Even people who live in Pennsylvania and are used to seeing truss bridges might pick this bridge out as an unusual one.
The replacement of this bridge, which is in progress, is yet another example of how Pennsylvania has one of the poorest track records for bridge preservation in the country. PennDOT has over the past few years literally been obliterating the Allegenhy River. The Allegheny River once had some of the finest and most unusual historic bridges ever seen on it, and one by one, PennDOT is demolishing each one. Indeed, there is not a single example of a genuine commitment to historic bridge preservation on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania, between the city limits of Pittsburgh and the river's source, which is near the state of New York. The Foxburg bridge is a bridge that is truly unique, and for this reason it has a very high degree of historic significance. In a world where transportation policy and historic preservation policy functioned in a feasible and sensible manner, the Foxburg Bridge would be preserved. However, these policies do not function correctly, so what is the fate of the Foxburg Bridge? Hope you are sitting down. The report for the bridge indicated that the new bridge's would be constructed to the point where it could carry two-lane vehicular traffic. Then, the historic Foxburg Bridge will be demolished to make way for adding a sidewalk onto the new bridge! Is there a more blatant example of how to waste history and tax dollars? Any person with an amateur background in fiscal and material responsibility and/or historic preservation would immediately say the better option is to make the historic Foxburg Bridge the crossing for non-motorized traffic! The fact that PennDOT is demolishing a historic bridge that could if restored likely carry pedestrians for longer than the new bridge will carry vehicles to make way for a sidewalk on the new bridge is absurd.
