The Riverlife Task Force conducted a competition in the spring of 2006 to design a pedestrian bridge across the Ohio attached to the West End Bridge. The goal of the competition was to create an iconic architectural element which ties both shore neighborhoods with the waterfronts while eliminating the need for pedestrians to cross traffic lanes and empty lots. The winning design [6] was submitted by Endres Ware (now Endrestudio) in association with OLIN, Ammann & WhitneyArchived 2006-02-03 at the Wayback Machine, Auerbach Glasow, and RWDI.
Description
As originally built, the West End Bridge consisted of eight spans (listed from south to north):[7]
The four northern approach spans were demolished in 1990 to build a new interchange with Ohio River Boulevard.[8] The roadway measures 40 feet (12 m) curb-to-curb, carrying four traffic lanes, with 9-foot (2.7 m) sidewalks on either side.[5]
When built, the bridge had a clearance of 73 feet (22 m) above the Ohio River.[3] After construction of the Emsworth Dam in 1938, the clearance was reduced to 66 feet (20 m).[9]
Construction of the West End Bridge
History
A bridge connecting the North Side to the West End was first proposed in 1912 by Pittsburgh businessman Henry Tranter (1865–1940). Tranter formed a committee to lobby for the bridge and spent more than a decade promoting the project. When the bridge was finally dedicated in 1932, Tranter served as master of ceremonies. For these reasons, he was remembered as the "Father of the West End Bridge".[7]
In 1928, Pittsburgh voters approved a $43.7 million bond issue to fund a variety of public works, including the West End Bridge, McKees Rocks Bridge, South Tenth Street Bridge, Saw Mill Run Boulevard, Allegheny River Boulevard, and Allegheny County Airport.[10] Work on the West End Bridge began in 1930, with the contracts for the substructure and superstructure being awarded to the Foundation Company of New York and the American Bridge Company, respectively. The bridge was dedicated five months ahead of schedule on December 2, 1932.[7]
In the 1970s, planning began for an interchange at the north end of the bridge which would be the "missing link" between the Fort Duquesne Bridge and the newly expanded Ohio River Boulevard.[11] However, work did not begin until 1990.[12] During the $46 million project, the bridge was fully rehabilitated and its four northern approach spans were replaced with a new set of ramps. It reopened in 1991.[13] The U.S. Department of Transportation determined that removal of the approach spans did not compromise the qualities that made the bridge eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.[7]
^ ab"McKees Rocks and West End Steel Arches". Engineering News-Record. 106 (17). McGraw Hill Publications Company: 676–680. April 23, 1931. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
^Kidney, Walter C. (1999). Pittsburgh's Bridges Architecture and Engineering. Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. p. 160.
^"Voters Favor Bond Issue's Seven Items". Pittsburgh Press. June 27, 1928. Clippings of the first page and second page via Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
^Grata, Joe (May 18, 1990). "W. End Bridge closing June 5 for 16 months". Pittsburgh Press. Clippings of the first page and second page via Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
