David McCullough Bridge

The David McCullough Bridge, commonly and historically known as the 16th Street Bridge, is a steel trussed through arch bridge that spans the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

David McCullough Bridge
Coordinates40°27′6″N 79°59′27″W
Carries16th Street
CrossesAllegheny River
LocaleAllegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
Other name(s)Sixteenth Street Bridge
Maintained byAllegheny County
NRHP #79002163
Characteristics
Total length1,996 m (6,549 ft)
Width41.3 m (135 ft)
Longest span437 feet (133 m)
Clearance below41.3 feet (12.6 m)
History
ArchitectWarren and Wetmore, architects
DesignerH.G. Balcom, engineer
Built1923 (1923)
Designated2001[1]
NRHP reference No.79002163[2]
Added to NRHPAugust 13, 1979
Location

The 16th Street Bridge replaced the Mechanics Street Bridge which had been completed at the behest of the State of Pennsylvania in 1838.[3] The 16th Street Bridge was constructed in 1922 with a length of 1,900 feet (580 m) and a width of 40 feet (12 m). The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The 16th Street Bridge is one of the more popular bridges in the city of Pittsburgh and provides easy access to the Strip District and the North Shore.

Days after the disastrous St. Patrick's Day Flood of 1936, reports spread on March 20 that the bridge had collapsed from the pressure of the receding flood waters and debris, prompting Pittsburgh Police Chief Jacob Dorsey to close all city bridges for fear of receding waters and debris weakening or collapsing them. However, the reports were soon discovered to be false.[4]

On July 7, 2013, the structure was named in honor of native historian, author and commentator David McCullough in a bridge ceremony sponsored by Heinz History Center.[5]

  • View from above
  • View from 31st Street Bridge with downtown in background and Heinz Loft on north bank
  • View from Strip District

See also

References
  1. Historic Landmark Plaques 1968-2009 (PDF). Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  2. "NPS Focus". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  3. Mader, Nicole. "Northern Liberties Bridge Company Ledger Finding Aid". University of Pittsburgh Archive Service Center. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  4. "False Report of Bridge Collapsing Causes Panic in Pittsburgh -- 45 Dead". The Evening Independent Vol. 39, No. 118. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  5. "David McCullough Bridge Dedication Ceremony & Celebrations Announced". www.alleghenycounty.us. June 26, 2013. Retrieved 2021-01-31.

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