OFFICIAL NAME:
OTHER DESIGNATION:
Sixth Street Bridge, St. Clair Street Bridge
LOCATION:
Pittsburgh
USGS 7.5" Topo Quad - UTM Coordinates:
Pittsburgh West - Zone 17; 0584 4477
CARRIED:
motor vehicles, street cars
BETWEEN:
-- Federal St [Franklin Rd] on right descending bank of Allegheny River
-- Sixth St [St. Clair St] on left descending bank of Allegheny River
CROSSED:
-- Allegheny River at mile 0.5
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN:
subdivided Pratt (modified Pennsylvania/Petit) through truss
LENGTH OF MAIN SPAN:
(north to south) 48.5 ft; two main spans of 439.0 ft each; 105 ft approach with two 28 ft archways
40 ft wide roadway, with two 10 ft sidewalks
TOTAL LENGTH (including longest elevated ramp):
1,032.5 ft
HEIGHT OF DECK:
YEAR ERECTED / ENGINEER:
1892, Theodore Cooper; replaced 1927 (trusses moved to Ohio River back channel between Coraopolis and Neville Island)
Drake & Stratton Company, Ltd, foundations and masonry
Union Bridge Company, superstructure
Baird Brothers of Pittsburgh, erection
ADDITIONAL INFO:
Replaced the 1857 Roebling suspension bridge.
Declared a toll-free bridge 16 March 1911.
The 1892 Sixth Street Bridge (a pair of camelback Pratt trusses and the third bridge built in this location) had a second chance. In 1927, it was lowered from its piers, the top chords partially disassembled. The structure was floated downriver to a new location over the Ohio River back channel between Coraopolis and Neville Island to make way for the current structure. After nearly 50 years of additional service, which included weight restrictions and closings during cold weather, the old bridge was replaced by a deck girder bridge which was completed in 1995.
Sixth St was formerly St. Clair St in Pittsburgh; it aligns with Federal St (formerly Franklin Rd which connected to the Venango Path) in the former city of Allegheny (Northside).
Historic American Engineeering Record (HAER):
view page - Coraopolis Bridge 1892-1927; Sixth St Bridge 1927-1986 (HAER PA-217); P.A.C. Spero & Company, 1989
view page - "Three Sisters" Bridges -- Historic American Engineering Record document
FIELD CHECKED:
INFO SOURCES:
Lorant, "Pittsburgh"; Smith, "Pittsburgh: Then and Now"
