Washington Crossing Bridge (Pittsburgh) Explained

Washington Crossing Bridge (Pittsburgh) should not be confused with Washington Crossing Bridge.

Bridge Name:	Washington Crossing Bridge
Also Known As:	40th Street Bridge
Carries:	40th Street
Crosses:	Allegheny River
Locale:	Pittsburgh and Millvale
Maint:	Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Design:	Arch bridge
Designer:	Benno Janssen, Janssen & Cocken
Material:	steel
Pierswater:	4
Mainspan:	360feet
Length:	2366feet
Width:	3 lanes
Below:	72.5feet
Open:	1924
Coordinates:	40.4728°N -79.9686°W
Extra:	Embed: yes Nrhp Type: nrhp Added: June 22, 1988 Refnum: 88000820 Nocat: yes Nrhp Type2: indcp Partof Refnum: 100004020 Designated Nrhp Type2: July 8, 2019 Designated Other1: PHLF Designated Other1 Date: 2004^[1]

thumb|rightThe Washington Crossing Bridge, commonly known as the Fortieth Street Bridge, is an arch bridge that carries vehicular traffic across the Allegheny River between the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lawrenceville and the suburb of Millvale.^{[2] [3] [4]} The bridge is decorated with the seals representing the original 13 colonies of the US and that of Allegheny county.^[5]

History

Erected between 1919 and late 1924,^[6] and officially opened on December 29, 1924,^{[7] [8]} the Washington Crossing Bridge was originally built to accommodate two lanes of traffic and one streetcar line. Its estimated cost upon completion was $2,344,000.^[9]

A 1982 re-decking allowed for the creation of a reversible third automobile lane.^[10]

The bridge received its name because it is located at a historically significant site pertaining to George Washington's military career.^{[11] [12]} In 1753, then-Major Washington was dispatched to give French forces an ultimatum to negotiate for the return of the lands that today make up Western Pennsylvania to the British or to prepare for a military strike. Crossing the Allegheny on a wooden raft, Washington was nearly killed when his vessel overturned at this site.

See also

• List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Pennsylvania
• List of crossings of the Allegheny River

Notes and References

1. Book: Historic Landmark Plaques 1968-2009 . Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation . Pittsburgh, PA . 2010 . 2010-07-02.
2. Martin, Park H. "City of Bridges." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 12, 1949, p. 27 (subscription required).
3. Stearns, Robert. "Spans of Attention." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, February 18, 1973, pp. 246-248 (subscription required).
4. "Allegheny County's New Bridges." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Post, December 30, 1924, p. 6 (subscription required).
5. Web site: Blackley . Katie . The Colorful Seals On The 40th Street Bridge Are A Nod To American Colonial History . 90.5 WESA . 8 June 2023 . en . 11 September 2018.
6. Thomas, Lillian. "Washington Crossing Bridge in dire need of a new paint job." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 4, 1999, p. 25 (subscription required).
7. "Washington Crossing Bridge Dedication Attracts Many" (article with photo essay). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Post, December 30, 1924, p. 4 (subscription required).
8. "New Bridges To Be Opened." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 28, 1924, p. 41 (subscription required).
9. "5,000 Witness Opening of 2 New Bridges." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 30, 1924, p. 3 (subscription required).
10. Web site: Bridges & Tunnels of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, PA - Washington Crossing Bridge . October 10, 2000 . March 21, 2010.
11. Rimmel, William M. "Where Was Washington's Crossing?" Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 18, 1956, p. 31 (subscription required).
12. "Bridge Opening Today Honors Memory of Washington, Surveyor-President." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Post, December 29, 1924, p. 16 (subscription required).