31st Street Bridge
Encyclopedia
The 31st Street Bridge, is an arch bridge
that carries vehicular traffic across the Allegheny River
between the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Troy Hill
and the Strip District. The bridge passes over, but does not serve, Herrs Island, which is connected to the mainland by the 30th Street Bridge
. Sidewalks along the bridge feature viewing platforms.
The bridge was due to close on Tuesday January 31, 2006 for a proposed $27 million refurbishment which would take two years. It eventually closed on February 14, 2006 and reopened by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
on November 21, 2007.
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
that carries vehicular traffic across the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
between the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Troy Hill
Troy Hill
Troy Hill is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a zip code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1 ....
and the Strip District. The bridge passes over, but does not serve, Herrs Island, which is connected to the mainland by the 30th Street Bridge
30th Street Bridge
The 30th Street Bridge, is a girder bridge that carries vehicular traffic across the Allegheny River between the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Troy Hill and Herrs Island . This is the fourth bridge that has stood on this site. A wooden 19th Century bridge was washed away during an 1882 flood...
. Sidewalks along the bridge feature viewing platforms.
History
The bridge was built in 1927-1928 to replace an earlier through truss bridge aligned with 30th Street. This earlier bridge was built in 1887 but was destroyed by fire on July 8, 1921. The 1887 bridge itself replaced a two span iron truss which was destroyed by a flood in 1882. A cable suspension footbridge was provided as a crossing whilst the new 31st Street bridge was being constructed.The bridge was due to close on Tuesday January 31, 2006 for a proposed $27 million refurbishment which would take two years. It eventually closed on February 14, 2006 and reopened by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
Luke Ravenstahl
Luke Robert Ravenstahl is the current Mayor of Pittsburgh. In September 2006, he became the youngest mayor in Pittsburgh's history at the age of 26. He is among the youngest mayors of a major city in American history....
on November 21, 2007.