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picture of bridge

Flood washes away bridge

OFFICIAL NAME:


OTHER DESIGNATION:
Herr's Island Bridge (30th St]
pghe586-17x

LOCATION:
Pittsburgh

USGS 7.5" Topo Quad - UTM Coordinates:
Pittsburgh East - Zone 17; 0586 4479
CARRIED:
Thirtieth St

BETWEEN:
-- River Av on right descending bank of Allegheny River
-- Herr's Island in Allegheny River

CROSSED:
-- Allegheny River mile 2.5 at Herr's Island
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN:
through truss, 2 spans

LENGTH OF MAIN SPAN:


TOTAL LENGTH (including longest elevated ramp):


HEIGHT OF DECK:


YEAR ERECTED / ENGINEER:
c1882
ADDITIONAL INFO:
The first bridge to cross to Herr's Island. Shown on a informational panel on the Steel Heritage Trail. This bridge is shown being washed away in a flood.

A bridge built in 1887 crossed at this location until it was destroyed by fire in 1921. That bridge crossed the full width of the Allegheny River, including Herr's Island, and linked to 30th in the Strip District. The concrete wall lining East Ohio St and the retaining wall above the railroad [NS, former Conrail and PRR] show evidence of the opening of the 30th St Bridge.

The back channel portion was replaced in 1939 and again in 1986 with the current structure.

The island was settled by Benjamin Herr who operated a water powered mill in the back channel. Federal regulations required that livestock being transported by railroad must be given rest stops. Stockyards were constructed on Herr's Island. Over time, the stockyards were expanded; slaughterhouses and processing factories covered the island.

Later the stockyards were closed and replaced by warehouses. Sculling teams from local universities discovered the still waters of the back channel and used this area for training. Herr's Island was rechristened Washington's Landing by the City of Pittsburgh as part of the clean-up and rehabilitation of the former industrial brownfield site. A new 30th Street bridge was built for reliable access.

With the raised environmental conciousness of the early 1990s, Herr's Island was rediscovered, cleared and cleaned as part of a residential and recreational development which includes a marina, recreational trails and riverside park areas. The former West Penn (PRR) railroad bridge at the downstream tip of the island has been converted to pedestrian use, and includes an accessible switchback ramp at its western end.

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INFO SOURCES:



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Introduction -- Nearby Structures


Page created:
Last modified: 10-Nov-2000

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