OFFICIAL NAME:
Dravosburg-Reynoldton Bridge
OTHER DESIGNATION:
LOCATION:
Dravosburg-Reynoldton
USGS 7.5" Topo Quad - UTM Coordinates:
Glassport - Zone 17; 0594 4466
CARRIED:
motor vehicles, street railway
BETWEEN:
-- Bridge St [John St] at Sinclair St [Atlantic Av] (Reynoldton) on right descending bank of Monongahela River
-- McClure St at Washington St (Dravosburg) on left descending bank of Monongahela River
CROSSED:
-- Monongahela River at mile 16.5
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN:
3 Whipple though trusses on stone piers
LENGTH OF MAIN SPAN:
220 ft, 312 ft (channel span), 220 ft
TOTAL LENGTH (including longest elevated ramp):
HEIGHT OF DECK:
YEAR ERECTED / ENGINEER:
1889
ADDITIONAL INFO:
The Whipple truss is similar to the Pratt truss, but the diagonal web member cross two panels rather than one. This bridge and the original Panhandle RR bridge over the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh were examples of the few bridges of this type built in this region.
Reynoldton in now part of McKeesport. John St was originally Ferry St, then Bridge St. Atlantic Av was previously known as Sinclair St and St. Clair St.
"The ferry boats Tillie, Jac Gumbert and H. B. Sinclair were used to ferry people to McKeesport. When the Dravosburg Bridge over the Monongahela and the Third Street Bridge over the Youghiogheny were built, the ferry boats were taken out of service...Street cars came to Dravosburg in 1890 but the tracks ended on McClure Street at the PVC (Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston) RR Crossing. Patrons got off the cars and walked a long flight of stairs and boarded a car for Pittsburgh. The viaduct was built in 1897." -- Walter (Red) Piper and William A. Linn
FIELD CHECKED:
INFO SOURCES:
Beal, "McKeesport Trolleys" ; Kidney "Pittsburgh's Bridges"
