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photo of bridge

Elevation drawing looking downstream

Elevation drawing looking downstream

Elevation drawing looking downstream

photo of bridge photo of bridge
Crossing over Maple Ave, Dravosburg
Panoramic view north from PA837
photo of bridge photo of bridge photo of bridge
Postcard;
View southeast;
Builder's plate


OFFICIAL NAME:
W.D. Mansfield Memorial Bridge

OTHER DESIGNATION:
Allegheny County Bridge No. 14 Monongahela River
Glassport-Dravosburg Bridge
glas593-8

LOCATION:
Dravosburg - McKeesport / Glassport

USGS 7.5" Topo Quad - UTM Coordinates:
Glassport - Zone 17; 0594 4486
CARRIES:
motor vehicles, four lanes divided
Richland Av; Yellow Belt
sidewalks both sides

BETWEEN:
-- right descending bank of Monongahela River; West Fifth Av, McKeesport [Yellow Belt]; Monongahela Av, Glassport
-- left descending bank of Monongahela River; Richland Av [Yellow Belt], Dravosburg

CROSSES:
-- (RDB to LDB) southbound lanes of West Fifth Av - Monongahela Av; CSX [PLE RR]; Monongahela River at mile 16.7; Duquesne-Dravosburg Rd [River Rd, PA837]; NS RR [Conrail]; grade separation at Maple Av
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN:
Cantilever through truss; deck riveted steel girder viaduct

LENGTH OF MAIN SPAN:
480.0 ft

TOTAL LENGTH (including longest elevated ramp):
1,931 ft

HEIGHT OF DECK:
65.3 ft, vertical clearance, at right pier of channel span
Lock and Dam No. 2, Braddock, normal pool level 718.7 ft

YEAR ERECTED / ENGINEER:
1951, County of Allegheny
American Bridge Co. (plaque on bridge superstructure notes the date 1948)
Rehabilitated 2014
ADDITIONAL INFO:
With light blue paint peeling off of aluminum grey, this high-level bridge doesn't exude charm and grace. But in a way, it has been frozen in time.

Although safety updates have been made to the deck, including jersey barriers, most of the detailing of the structure and its approaches remain from the original design. Period lampposts, light fixtures and hardware are still in service, especially in the area of the grade separation on the Dravosburg side.

Extending toward the river from the grade separation, a utilitarian girder viaduct matter-of-factly crosses the flats near the river bank in 8 spans. The river crossing uses a cantilever through truss with the upper chords curving above the piers of the 480 ft channel span. From a height of nearly 70 feet, the view from the sidewalk presents a long curve of the river which typically includes towboat traffic. Most of the industry along this section of the river has long since faded, but to the south the clouds from the USX Irvin Works and a General Motors Fisher Body plant are visible.

At the McKeesport landing, the bridge and a less fussy grade separation complete the crossing -- over top of an auto wrecking yard. This approach to the bridge is much like the southern end of the Rankin Bridge. The lanes closest to the river (southbound) pass below the first span of the bridge, bypassing the deck traffic. Here West Fifth Av, McKeesport, becomes Monongahela Av, Glassport. Northbound traffic bypasses the crossing, but at deck level. Bridge traffic moves continuously with a stop sign only for the bridge traffic entering from Glassport.

On the first vertical truss member on the right hand side of each portal, a small escutcheon reminds the pedestrian that this bridge was constructed by American Bridge Co.

Mounted on the sidewalk railing at the southwest and northeast ends of the bridge, a plaque reads:

County of Allegheny
Wm. D. Mansfield Memorial Bridge
No. 14 Monongahela River
Dravosburg and Glassport Boroughs
City of McKeesport
Erected 1951
Commissioners
Jno. J. Kane
Harry W. Fowler     Ernest Hillman
[Geo. Rankin Jr. - Dec'd May 7, 1940]
Controller
James W. Knox
County Department of Public Works
Directors
1936-1943
John F. LaBoon
Preliminary Design
And Location
 
1943-1946
John B. Sweeney
Public Utility
Commission Plans
 
1946-1951
Levi Bird Duff
Detail Plans
And Construction


This bridge replaced a low-level bridge which linked McClure St in Dravosburg to John St in McKeesport [Port Vue].

FIELD CHECKED:
03-June-2000

INFO SOURCES:
USACE Monongahela River Nav. Charts


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Introduction -- Nearby Structures


Page created:
Last modified: 14-June-2002

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