| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tidioute Bridge
| Buckingham Street Over Allegheny River | Tidioute: Warren County, Pennsylvania | Metal Riveted Parker Through Truss, Stationary | 1933 By: Bates and Rogers |
| Technical Facts |
| Rehabilitation Date | Main Span Length | Structure Length | Roadway Width | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 2002 | 270 Feet (82.3 Meters) | 551 Feet (167.9 Meters) | 24 Feet (7.3 Meters) | 2 | 0 |
This bridge is quickly becoming one of the last metal truss bridges on the entire Allegheny River. The Allegheny River once had a large number of beautiful historic metal truss bridges on it, but one after another PennDOT has been demolishing each and every one.
Consisting of two ten panel Parker truss spans, this bridge is an excellent example of a Pennsylvania state standard truss bridge, following the beautiful and impressive design that the state used for larger span crossings. Key aesthetic features of the bridge design include extensive v-lacing and lattice on the built-up beams that compose the truss web and bracing, as well as heavy lattice portal bracing. As such, this bridge acts as a beautiful historic gateway for Tidioute.
The bridge was fabricated by the Buffalo, NY works of the Lackawanna Steel Construction Company. Bates and Rogers was the local on-site contractor for the bridge. Original plans called for an initial shop coat of "red lead paint and oil", and two coats of paint in the field "per specs." These plans specified a total of 1,643,000 pounds of structural steel for the superstructure. The plans indicate that a previous structure existed on the site when the existing bridge was built, and that the superstructure above the piers was to be removed. The piers from this previous bridge were reused for the current bridge.
The Tidioute Bridge retains a high degree of historic and structural integrity, and with proper maintenance and rehabilitation as needed it will serve as a functional and historic crossing for decades to come. The only noteworthy alteration is the addition of concrete barrier guardrails and removal of original abutment balustrades.
The bridge is a very photogenic bridge and well worth a a visit; you can get good photos of this bridge south/west of the town of Tidioute on HWY-127. There is also a park near the bridge that also offers good side view shots of the bridge. The river valley is quite beautiful here, and goes well with the beauty of the bridge.
Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge InventoryDiscussion of Bridge The 1933, riveted, two span, 551'-long (1 @ 269', 1 @ 268') , Parker thru truss bridge is supported on a substructure that incorporates parts of an earlier ashlar substructure. The heavy trusses are composed from built up members. Built to a state standard design, the bridge has no innovative or distinctive details. It is an example of common technology, and and it is neither historically nor technologically significant. Discussion of Surrounding Area The bridge carries a 2 lane street and sidewalk over the Allegheny River in Tidioute, two blocks south of the National Register-listed Main Street Historic District. In between are late 20th century infill buildings and parking lots. To the southwest is a small, post-WW II commercial area. Southeast is more rural in character. Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No |
