American Bridge Company
Encyclopedia
The American Bridge Company is a privately held civil engineering
firm specializing in the construction and renovation of bridge
s and other large civil engineering projects, founded in 1900, and headquartered in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
, a suburb of Pittsburgh.
) noting at least 81. A partial listing of projects is below. The firm is listed as the builder of a project but may not necessarily be (and usually is not) the designer. In most cases the bridge designer or building architect does not get to select the construction company, he designs it but then bids are let by the owners/developers. The designer and the contractor have to subsequently work together closely to get the job done.
American Bridge has also been involved in significant building construction projects such as the Willis Tower, the Empire State Building
and the Chrysler Building
, as well as in other structural projects such as launch pads and resorts.
Significant competitors include Walsh Group, Flatiron Construction, and Skanska USA
.
Related companies include American Bridge Holding Company and American Bridge Manufacturing Company, both also headquartered in Coraopolis.
American Bridge Company was founded in April 1900, through the JP Morgan-led consolidation of 28 of the largest United States based steel fabricators and constructors. The company’s roots extend to the late 1860s, when one of the consolidated firms, Keystone Bridge Works, constructed the Eads Bridge
, the first steel bridge over the Mississippi River
, at St. Louis
which is still in use today. Shortly thereafter, in 1902, the company became a subsidiary of United States Steel as part of the Steel Trust consolidation. It went private in 1987.
The company has a long and storied history. While American Bridge’s roots in steel fabrication and construction remain a strength today, the company developed broad based contracting and management resources to service complex project needs. Some of American Bridge’s most notable projects are more a testament to construction engineering know how and management abilities than to its historical strength in steel construction. The company pioneered the use of steel as a construction material; developing the means & methods for fabrication and construction that allowed it to be widely used in buildings, bridges, vessels, and other plate applications. As a result, and due to its deep financial resources, American Bridge has operated on a national and international scale from the moment of its inception.
American Bridge produced a number of ships for the United States Navy
as part of the war effort during World War II
. The town of Ambridge, Pennsylvania
was an American Bridge Company town
(thus the name "Ambridge"), and is near their current headquarters of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
. Both municipalities are located on the Ohio River near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, with access to many steel suppliers, as well as to waterborne and rail transport, to allow shipment of components and subassemblies.
American Bridge has come under criticism for its role in the Discovery Land Company's 'Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club' in the Bahamas. American Bridge is responsible for construction activities in a highly sensitive mangrove and coral reef area of Great Guana Cay, a barrier island of Abaco. The project is now opposed by the Sierra Club, Ocean Futures Society and dozens of conservation groups around the world. The local indigenous natives of Great Guana Cay have created a powerful opposition to the construction activities, often bringing construction to a halt through the Bahamian Supreme Court and U.K. Privy Council.
This is a representative, not an exhaustive, list.
venture with Fluor Corporation, American Bridge-Fluor
.
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
firm specializing in the construction and renovation of bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s and other large civil engineering projects, founded in 1900, and headquartered in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Coraopolis is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 5,677 at the 2010 census. In 1940 the population peaked at 11,086. It is a small community located to the west of Pittsburgh, along the Ohio River and to the east of the Pittsburgh International Airport...
, a suburb of Pittsburgh.
Products and industry positioning
The firm has built many bridges in the U.S. and elsewhere, with Historic American Engineering Record this listing (at the Library of CongressLibrary of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
) noting at least 81. A partial listing of projects is below. The firm is listed as the builder of a project but may not necessarily be (and usually is not) the designer. In most cases the bridge designer or building architect does not get to select the construction company, he designs it but then bids are let by the owners/developers. The designer and the contractor have to subsequently work together closely to get the job done.
American Bridge has also been involved in significant building construction projects such as the Willis Tower, the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
and the Chrysler Building
Chrysler Building
The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco style skyscraper in New York City, located on the east side of Manhattan in the Turtle Bay area at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Standing at , it was the world's tallest building for 11 months before it was surpassed by the Empire State...
, as well as in other structural projects such as launch pads and resorts.
Significant competitors include Walsh Group, Flatiron Construction, and Skanska USA
Skanska
Skanska AB, is a multinational construction and development company based in Sweden, where it also is the largest construction company. The company's head office is in Solna, north of Stockholm.-History:...
.
Related companies include American Bridge Holding Company and American Bridge Manufacturing Company, both also headquartered in Coraopolis.
History
Eads Bridge
The Eads Bridge is a combined road and railway bridge over the Mississippi River at St. Louis, connecting St. Louis and East St. Louis, Illinois....
, the first steel bridge over the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, at St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
which is still in use today. Shortly thereafter, in 1902, the company became a subsidiary of United States Steel as part of the Steel Trust consolidation. It went private in 1987.
The company has a long and storied history. While American Bridge’s roots in steel fabrication and construction remain a strength today, the company developed broad based contracting and management resources to service complex project needs. Some of American Bridge’s most notable projects are more a testament to construction engineering know how and management abilities than to its historical strength in steel construction. The company pioneered the use of steel as a construction material; developing the means & methods for fabrication and construction that allowed it to be widely used in buildings, bridges, vessels, and other plate applications. As a result, and due to its deep financial resources, American Bridge has operated on a national and international scale from the moment of its inception.
American Bridge produced a number of ships for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as part of the war effort during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The town of Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Ambridge is a borough in Beaver County in Western Pennsylvania, incorporated in 1905 and named after the American Bridge Company. Ambridge is located 16 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, alongside the Ohio River. In 1910, 5,205 people lived in Ambridge; in 1920, 12,730 people lived there, and in...
was an American Bridge Company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
(thus the name "Ambridge"), and is near their current headquarters of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Coraopolis is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 5,677 at the 2010 census. In 1940 the population peaked at 11,086. It is a small community located to the west of Pittsburgh, along the Ohio River and to the east of the Pittsburgh International Airport...
. Both municipalities are located on the Ohio River near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, with access to many steel suppliers, as well as to waterborne and rail transport, to allow shipment of components and subassemblies.
American Bridge has come under criticism for its role in the Discovery Land Company's 'Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club' in the Bahamas. American Bridge is responsible for construction activities in a highly sensitive mangrove and coral reef area of Great Guana Cay, a barrier island of Abaco. The project is now opposed by the Sierra Club, Ocean Futures Society and dozens of conservation groups around the world. The local indigenous natives of Great Guana Cay have created a powerful opposition to the construction activities, often bringing construction to a halt through the Bahamian Supreme Court and U.K. Privy Council.
Notable projects
Bridges
- Constructed Five of America’s most notable bridgeBridgeA bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s
-
- Silver BridgeSilver BridgeThe Silver Bridge collapsed in 1967, killing 46 people. The terms Silver Bridge or Silverbridge may also refer to:* Silver Memorial Bridge, the replacement for the above bridge, opened in 1969....
, Point Pleasant, West VirginiaPoint Pleasant, West VirginiaPoint Pleasant is a city in Mason County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. The population was 4,637 at the 2000 census...
(1927) - Macarthur CausewayMacArthur CausewayThe General Douglas MacArthur Causeway is a six-lane causeway which connects Downtown, Miami, Florida and South Beach, Miami Beach via Biscayne Bay....
, Miami, FloridaMiami, FloridaMiami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
(1997) - San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, CaliforniaOakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
(1936) - Mackinac BridgeMackinac BridgeThe Mackinac Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac to connect the non-contiguous Upper and Lower peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan. Opened in 1957, the bridge is the third longest in total suspension in the world and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages...
, Mackinac Straits, Michigan (1957) - Verrazano-Narrows BridgeVerrazano-Narrows BridgeThe Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City at the Narrows, the reach connecting the relatively protected upper bay with the larger lower bay....
, New York HarborNew York HarborNew York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
(1964)
- Silver Bridge
- Constructed the longest concrete segmental cable stay bridge in the United States
- Sunshine Skyway BridgeSunshine Skyway BridgeThe Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a bridge spanning Tampa Bay, Florida, with a cable-stayed main span, and a total length of 21,877 feet . It is part of I-275 and US 19 , connecting St. Petersburg in Pinellas County and Terra Ceia in Manatee County, Florida, passing through Hillsborough...
, Tampa BayTampa BayTampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(1986)
- Sunshine Skyway Bridge
- Constructed the longest suspension bridge in South America, and one of the longest in Europe.
- Orinoco BridgeAngostura BridgeAngostura Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the Orinoco River at Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. The Spanish word Angostura means "narrows"....
, VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
(1967) - 25th of April Bridge, LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
(1966)
- Orinoco Bridge
- Constructed the world's longest arch bridgeArch bridgeAn 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...
on three occasions.- New River Gorge BridgeNew River Gorge BridgeThe New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge long over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. With an arch long, the New River Gorge Bridge was for many years the world's longest arch bridge; it is now the third...
, West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, 1977, 518 meters, (1,700’) - Bayonne BridgeBayonne BridgeThe Bayonne Bridge is the fourth longest steel arch bridge in the world, and was the longest in the world at the time of its completion. It connects Bayonne, New Jersey with Staten Island, New York, spanning the Kill Van Kull. Despite popular belief, it is not a national landmark.The bridge was...
, Staten IslandStaten IslandStaten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
-New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, 1932, 504 meters (1,652’) - Hell Gate BridgeHell Gate BridgeThe Hell Gate Bridge or Hell's Gate Bridge is a steel through arch railroad bridge between Astoria in the borough of Queens and Randall's and Wards Islands in New York City, over a portion of the East River known...
, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, 1916, 298 meters (978’)
- New River Gorge Bridge
- Constructed the world’s longest self-supporting continuous truss bridgeTruss bridgeA truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
.- Astoria BridgeAstoria-Megler BridgeThe Astoria–Megler Bridge is a steel girder continuous truss bridge that spans the Columbia River between Astoria, Oregon and Point Ellice near Megler, Washington, in the United States. The span is from the mouth of the river, and was the last segment of U.S. Route 101 between Olympia, Washington...
, OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, 1966, 376 meters (1,232’)
- Astoria Bridge
- Significant renovations of existing bridges
- Relocation of an existing Norfolk Southern vertical lift bridge from Florence, AlabamaFlorence, AlabamaFlorence is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the northwestern corner of the state.According to the 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 36,721....
to Hannibal, MissouriHannibal, MissouriHannibal is a city in Marion and Ralls counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. Hannibal is located at the intersection of Interstate 72 and U.S. Routes 24, 36 and 61, approximately northwest of St. Louis. According to the 2010 U.S. Census the population was 17,606...
(1995) - First ever aerial spinning for additional main cables on a loaded, fully operational suspension bridge. 25 April Bridge in Lisbon, Portugal (1998)
- First ever stiffening truss replacement on a loaded, fully operational suspension bridge. Lions Gate Bridge, VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(2001)
- Relocation of an existing Norfolk Southern vertical lift bridge from Florence, Alabama
- The ongoing Eastern span replacement of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, in a joint
venture with Fluor Corporation, American Bridge-Fluor
American Bridge-Fluor
American Bridge-Fluor is a joint venture between American Bridge Company and Fluor Corporation, formed to bid on and currently working on the Eastern span replacement of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge....
.
Buildings
- Constructed the world’s tallest building on numerous occasions.
- Willis Tower, Chicago, 1974, 443 meters (1,454’)
- Empire State BuildingEmpire State BuildingThe Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, 1932, 381 meters (1,250’) - Chrysler BuildingChrysler BuildingThe Chrysler Building is an Art Deco style skyscraper in New York City, located on the east side of Manhattan in the Turtle Bay area at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Standing at , it was the world's tallest building for 11 months before it was surpassed by the Empire State...
, New York City, 1931, 319 meters (1,046’) - Woolworth BuildingWoolworth BuildingThe Woolworth Building is one of the oldest skyscrapers in New York City. More than a century after the start of its construction, it remains, at 57 stories, one of the fifty tallest buildings in the United States as well as one of the twenty tallest buildings in New York City...
, New York City, 1913, 241 meters (792’)
- Constructed many other well known buildings.
- John Hancock CenterJohn Hancock CenterJohn Hancock Center at 875 North Michigan Avenue in the Streeterville area of Chicago, Illinois, is a 100-story, 1,127-foot tall skyscraper, constructed under the supervision of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, with chief designer Bruce Graham and structural engineer Fazlur Khan...
, Chicago (and in Boston) - Aon CenterAon Center (Chicago)The Aon Center is a modern skyscraper in the Chicago Loop, Chicago, Illinois, United States, designed by architect firms Edward Durell Stone and The Perkins and Will partnership, and completed in 1973 as the Standard Oil Building...
(formerly Standard Oil), Chicago - Columbia Seafirst Center, Seattle
- U.S. Steel TowerU.S. Steel TowerU.S. Steel Tower, also known as the Steel Building , is the tallest skyscraper in Pittsburgh, the fourth tallest building in Pennsylvania, and the 37th tallest in the United States. Completed in 1970, the tower has 64 floors to and has of leasable space. Its original name was the U.S. Steel...
, 1970 - Flatiron BuildingFlatiron BuildingThe Flatiron Building, or Fuller Building, as it was originally called, is located at 175 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, New York City and is considered to be a groundbreaking skyscraper. Upon completion in 1902 it was one of the tallest buildings in the city and the only skyscraper...
, New York City, 1902
- John Hancock Center
- Erected the world’s largest building by volume twice.
- Vehicle Assembly BuildingVehicle Assembly BuildingThe Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center was used to assemble and house American manned launch vehicles from 1968-2011. It is the fourth largest building in the world by volume...
, Kennedy Space CenterKennedy Space CenterThe John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
, 1964 - Boeing 747Boeing 747The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
Assembly Building, Everett, WashingtonEverett, WashingtonEverett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, 1974
- Vehicle Assembly Building
- Constructed two of the most notable domed stadium structures in the world
- Louisiana SuperdomeLouisiana SuperdomeThe Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
, 1974 - Houston Astrodome, 1964
- Louisiana Superdome
Miscellaneous
- Space launch complex jacking for McDonnell DouglasMcDonnell DouglasMcDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
Astronautics (now BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
) (1994) - Built bottom framework for the unique, modular room units for Walt Disney Company at the Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World(1971)
Company information
Projects and history
- HAER record of at least 81 ABC bridges/projects
- American Bridge Company Chronological history from the company site
- Old Economy Village history page with American Bridge Company history.