Pennsylvania has the third-largest number of bridges, with over 25,000 state-owned structures.
From suspension bridges, covered bridges, and even a collapsed bridge, here are some of Pennsylvania’s most famous bridges.
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge
The Benjamin Franklin suspension bridge crosses the Delaware River, connecting Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey. It opened on July 1, 1926, but plans for a bridge began as early as 1818. At its peak time of construction, 1,300 people were working. When it opened, it was the world’s longest suspension bridge, a title it held until 1929. It was originally painted by the same company that painted the Golden Gate Bridge. The concrete “zipper barrier” dividing the seven lanes can be mechanically moved in order to change traffic volume. Featuring decorative lighting, the bridge can be custom-lit in commemoration of special occasions and events.
The Three Sisters Bridges
Consisting of Roberto Clemente Bridge (6th Street), Andy Warhol Bridge (7th Street), and Rachel Carson Bridge (9th Street), the Three Sisters Bridges are similar self-anchored suspension bridges crossing the Allegheny River. Construction took four years, with the American Bridge Company completing the work in 1928. The War Department mandated the construction, citing navigable river clearance concerns. They are the only trio of nearly identical bridges in the country and one of the last examples of large eyebar chain suspension bridges. The design is said to be a creative response to political, commercial, and aesthetic concerns important to Pittsburgh in the 1920s.
Smithfield Street Bridge
Designed by Gustav Lindenthal, who also designed the Hell Gate Bridge in New York City, the Smithfield Street Bridge was built between 1881 and 1883 and crosses the Monongahela River. It is the second-oldest steel bridge in the country and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1976, it was given status as a National Historic Landmark. The bridge is featured in the films Striking Distance (1993) and Flashdance (2010).
Fort Pitt Bridge
The world’s first computer-designed double-decker bowstring arch bridge, the Fort Pitt Bridge, opened as a replacement for the Point Bridge in 1959. It crosses the Monongahela River and carries Interstate 376 between the Fort Pitt Tunnel and Downtown Pittsburgh. In pop culture, it’s shown in a sequence of Led Zeppelin’s 1973 tour documentary The Song Remains the Same, and it was featured in the films The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), Striking Distance (1993) and Abduction (2011). It is also used as a recognizable landmark in the video game The Last of Us.
Kinzua Bridge
Billed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the Kinzua Bridge spanned 2,052 feet before a tornado in 2003 caused most of its structure to collapse. It was built in 1882 and held the record for the tallest railroad bridge in the world for two years. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased the bridge in 1963 as a centerpiece to the state park. Restoration was in progress when the tornado struck. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the American Society of Civil Engineers listed it as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1982. There is a scenic overlook in the park that allows visitors to see the fallen bridge and the surrounding valley.
Sachs Covered Bridge
Reportedly severely haunted after its use during the Battle of Gettysburg, the Sachs Covered Bridge crosses Marsh Creek in Adams County and serves as a hotspot for paranormal hunters. It is one of the few remaining Town truss style bridges, consisting of wooden lattice. Designated as Pennsylvania’s most historic bridge in 1938, it was closed to vehicular traffic in 1968 but remains open to pedestrians. After sustaining damage during a flood in 1996, it was repaired and rededicated in 1997. Visitors note many accounts of paranormal encounters.
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