Greenfield Bridge

The Greenfield Bridge, officially known as the Beechwood Boulevard (Greenfield) Bridge II, is a steel arch bridge located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.[3] The bridge spans the Parkway East (I-376) between the Greenfield and Oakland neighborhoods. The current steel bridge replaced an older concrete bridge at the same location.

Greenfield Bridge
The new Greenfield Bridge from the south
Coordinates40.4282°N 79.9380°W / 40.4282; -79.9380
Official nameBeechwood Boulevard (Greenfield) Bridge II
Characteristics
MaterialSteel
Total length462 feet (141 m)[1]
Width54.83 feet (16.71 m)[1]
Longest span287 feet (87 m)[2]
History
Engineering design byHDR, Inc.
Construction cost$17.5 million
OpenedOctober 15, 2017
Location

Original bridge
The original bridge during construction in 1922
The original bridge in 2012

An older concrete arch bridge existed at the site from 1922 to 2015. This bridge was officially named the Beechwood Boulevard Bridge, but was generally referred to as the Greenfield Bridge.[1] The bridge was constructed in 1921–1923.[4] It was completed by December 1922, but some of the approaches still needed to be filled in. The final cost was $370,000.[5] The original bridge was 466 feet (142 m) in total length with a 274 foot (84 m) main span.[4]

By the late 1980s, the bridge had begun to decay. In September 1989 debris from the bridge impacted cars, injuring three people. By this point nets had been placed under the bridge.[6] A city engineer said he suspected vandals may have thrown the concrete, but one of the drivers said they were watching the bridge after they were forced to stop and saw no one on the bridge.[7]

The decrepit condition of the bridge became "a national symbol of infrastructure failure" in the United States, and its poor condition was featured on 60 Minutes and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.[8] A makeshift 'bridge under a bridge' was constructed to prevent any falling debris that evaded the old bridge's nets from crashing onto I-376.[9]

The bridge was imploded on December 28, 2015 at 9:20 am.[9] The inbound side of I-376 reopened to traffic on the 31st, a day ahead of schedule. However, the outbound side suffered damage despite a protective layer of dirt placed under the bridge for the implosion and its reopening was delayed.[10]

New bridge

The replacement bridge opened to traffic on October 15, 2017. It is officially known as the Beechwood Boulevard (Greenfield) Bridge II.[11] The new bridge cost $17.5 million to construct and was designed and engineered by HDR, Inc.[2]

The new bridge mimics the appearance of the original structure and many of the stone ornaments from the original bridge were restored and incorporated into it.[2] The new bridge has wider lanes and sidewalks and a dedicated bicycle path.[2] Its steel elements are painted green to reflect its connection to the community of Greenfield.[2]

References
  1. "Award-Winning Greenfield Bridge Built for the Future while Embracing the Past" (PDF). High Steel News. High Steel Structures. Spring 2018. pp. 1, 3–4. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  2. "Best Highway/Bridges: Beechwood Boulevard (Greenfield) Bridge Replacement". ENR. BNP Media. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  3. http://phlf.org/2013/02/01/beechwood-boulevard-greenfield-bridge-to-be-replaced/
  4. "Greenfield Bridge Project - Pittsburgh, PA".
  5. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Boulevard Bridge To Be Opened to the Public This Month", December 9, 1922; page 1.
  6. The Indiana Gazette "Chunks of Bridge Damage Cars" September 16, 1989; page 1
  7. The Indiana Gazette "Chunks Fell Off Bridge, Says Driver" September 19, 1989; page 3.
  8. Melissa Daniels, Greenfield Bridge, symbol of infrastructure decay, to be built anew, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (October 10, 2015).
  9. "After nearly a century, 'grand' old Greenfield Bridge makes way for the new". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  10. "Parkway East reopens ahead of schedule after Greenfield Bridge..." WPXI. Archived from the original on 2016-01-02. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
  11. Clift, Theresa (October 14, 2017). "New bridge restores identity for Pittsburgh's Greenfield neighborhood". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
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