Fort Duquesne Bridge
NBI Information
Location
State: Pennsylvania
County: Allegheny County
Feature Carried: Fort Duquesne Bridge
Feature Crossed: Allegheny River
Latitude, Longitude: 40.4442,-80.0091
Toll: On free road
Maintenance Responsibility: State Highway Agency
Structure Open, Posted, or Closed to Traffic: Open, no restriction
History
Year Built: 1959
Historical Significance: Bridge is not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Year Reconstructed: None
Picture Date: May 26, 2019
Geometry
Lanes on Structure: 4
Lanes under Structure: 4
Skew: 0 degrees
Number of Main Spans: 1
Main Structure Type: Thru Arch
Main Structure Material: Steel
Number of Approach Spans: 4
Approach Structure Type: Steel continuous
Approach Structure Material: Box Beam or Girders - Single or Spread
Condition
Inspection Date: May 2022
Deck Condition: Fair
Superstructure Condition: Fair
Substructure Condition: Satisfactory
Channel Condition: Very Good
Culvert: Not Applicable
NBI Year: 2023
Bridge Information
The Fort Duquesne Bridge is a tied arch (also called a bowstring arch) bridge. The tied arch supports a double-deck system on the bridge, and the trussed tie follows the Warren truss configuration. It was styled to match the Fort Pitt Bridge which sits on the other side of the Point State Park.
The bridge was constructed in 1963. However, due to delays in acquiring the right of way for the northern approaches, the bridge did not actually tie down. It actually ended abruptly in midair, rendering it useless, and giving it the name "The Bridge to Nowhere". It finally connected with the northwest ramps to PA Route 65 in 1969, and was officially opened on October 17, 1969. However, the final ramps to PA Route 28 and Interstate 279 weren’t completed until 1986.
References
Historic Bridges: https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=pennsylvania/fortduquesne/
Bridges and Tunnels: http://bridgestunnels.com/location/fort-duquesne-bridge/
Pittsburg Beautiful: https://www.pittsburghbeautiful.com/2023/10/09/the-fort-duquesne-bridge/
