Homage in Bridge Reconstruction

Posted on June 15, 2023 by Carolyn Ristau

I’ve written before about how some bridges pay homage to the ones they replaced. Pittsburgh’s Greenfield and Heth’s Run Bridges did this. When writing about those bridges, I assumed that this approach might reassure a community by honoring the local memory and thereby maintaining a sense of stability. However, this was only a guess. While I had used the old Heth’s Run Bridge hundreds of times, I didn’t know it was a bridge until shortly before its replacement and most of its characteristics features had been removed, buried, or eroded long before. I don’t know if I had ever been on the Greenfield Bridge before the day I intentionally walked it for this blog. So I had no emotional connection to that bridge. Therefore, I cannot speak personally about the homage these bridges paid to the past.

When I arrived in East Stroudsburg, the blood-red, rounded through-truss bridge was no longer there (officially, it was a Warren pony truss style). This bridge had been an important landmark for me as a child, probably because its design was distinctive. It made me smile when I saw the new bridge had paid homage to the shape of the former truss. While the change of color and style of the bridge was significant, I felt a sense of comfort at the continuity created by the way the new design acknowledged the former bridge.

Down the hill from this bridge is the Interborough Bridge. This bridge connecting East Stroudsburg and Stroudsburg used to be a through-truss, possibly also a Warren pony truss bridge. When it was destroyed by a flood in 1955, the replacement did not pay homage to the past. The plain replacement bridge is very utilitarian and not much else. My foot had reached the end of its stamina before I was able to walk across it on this trip – which was actually a relief. I walked across it at least once when I was a kid. I remember it feeling unpleasant. There are sidewalks, but the proportion of vehicles lanes is quite large, cars move fast, and either end features auto-oriented uses. The one nice feature of the bridge are the views of Brodheads Creek, but there are plenty other more pleasant vantage points to view the creek.

In another form of homage, Brodheads Creek, the dividing line between East Stroudsburg and Stroudsburg, is named after Daniel Brodhead. On this trip, I learned that in 1737 Daniel was the first white settler in the area to purchase his land from the descendants of William Penn instead of the Lenni Lenape, the indigenous people who still lived on the land. Although, Penn began purchasing the land that the King of England had given him from the Lenape in 1683, it seems that the area around East Stroudsburg and Stroudsburg had not been purchased by the Penn family before they started selling it to settlers. The Walking Purchase of 1737 attempted to resolve this issue, though it seems the terms of the purchase were not explained clearly the Lenni Lenape beforehand. (Monroe County Historical Association, November 11, 2005; Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission)

Stroudsburg’s Bridges

Posted on May 30, 2023 by Carolyn Ristau

Speaking of federal highways built after WWII (potentially through communities), Interstate Route 80 runs through Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg. President Johnson mentions the recent completion of this highway in his letter to Stroudsburg’s mayor celebrating the borough’s sesquicentennial:

The recent completion of the Interstate Highways through the Poconos has made Stroudsburg and the communities around it more accessible than ever before. The Federal Government is proud to have played an important role in this acheivement.
Letter from President Johnson dated May 31, 1965

I do not know if any communities were demolished to build this interstate highway. It is likely that the presence of this interstate is part of the reason why some New Yorkers chose to relocate here following 9/11. It is certain that some of the local bridges owe part or all of their existence to this interstate. Many of the local bridges also owe their existence to the several creeks in the area.

The Seventh Street Bridge spans both Route 80 and McMichael’s Creek. (According to signs on this bridge it’s name is Sherrifs Forrest B. Sebring and Todd A. Martin Bridge, but the Pocono Record’s article on the renaming of this bridge highlights the controversy and public backlash to this renaming which was led by a State Representative.) Further east, the freeway and the creek are farther apart and so two separate bridges carry Broad Street over both obstacles. Heading back west, another bridge carries Main Street over Pocono Creek.

Pocono Creek and its bridge (the J. Summerfield Staples Memorial Bridge) appear to mark the western boundary of the historic core of town. On the other side of the bridge, there is an uptick in the number and frequency of auto-oriented uses and building designs.

Seventh Street Bridge

Broad Street Bridges

J. Summerfield Staples Memorial Bridge

Washington Crossing Bridge

Posted on April 15, 2023 by Carolyn Ristau

Last week, I unexpectedly found myself driving across the Washington Crossing Bridge. Once I got over the initial shock of finding myself driving on such a small bridge, I was struck by the parallels with other bridges I’ve encountered.

There was an immediate sense of deja vu having stumbled upon and walked across a similarly old and narrow bridge in 2017. The Market Street Bridge, Steubenville, bridges the Ohio River to connect Ohio and Pennsylvania; while the Washington Crossing Bridge bridges the Delaware River to connect New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Relying solely on my memory, I thought these two bridges were of the same design. However, looking back at my pictures, Market Street Bridge appears to be a hybrid suspension-truss bridge with the trusses painted yellow. The Washington Crossing Bridge is solely a truss bridge, with blue trusses. This leaves me with an unresolved sense of deja vu of having encountered a blue truss bridge of similar design somewhere once before.

The second parallel appeared when I stopped on the Pennsylvania side to figure out where I was and take more pictures of the bridge. A historic park made it easy to learn that this bridge and its surroundings were known as Washington Crossing. While I have a vague recollection of the story of Washington crossing the Delaware under the noses of the British Army, living in Pittsburgh, that crossing is eclipsed by his earlier crossing of the Allegheny River, when he fell in and had to spend the night on an island in the river before continuing on his mission on behalf of the British. The Allegheny River crossing is memorialized by the 40th Street Bridge‘s alternative name, Washington Crossing’s Bridge.

Best Bridge – Bridge Madness 2023

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Carolyn Ristau

Smithfield Street Bridge wins the 2023 Bridge Madness Tournament with 88% of the votes.

Thank you for participating in the 2023 Bridge Madness Tournament. While there were some close contests throughout the tournament, in the end, the Smithfield Bridge emerged as the clear winner with 88% of the votes to the 16th Street Bridge’s 12%.

Bridge Madness 2023 featured bridges or groups of bridges that are accessible to vehicles and pedestrians. From east to west, these bridges on the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers are the Highland Park Bridge, the 62nd Street or R.D. Fleming Bridge, the 40th Street or Washington’s Crossing Bridge, the 31st Street Bridge, the 16th Street or David McCullough Bridge, the Three Sisters Bridges (6th Street, 7th Street, and 9th Street), the Fort Duquesne Bridge, and the West End Bridge. From east to west, these bridges on the Monongahela River are the Homestead Greys Bridge, the Glenwood Bridge, the Hot Metal Bridges, the Birmingham Bridge, the South 10th Street Bridge, the Liberty Bridge, the Smithfield Bridge, and the Fort Pitt Bridge.

Bridge Madness 2023 – Championship

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Carolyn Ristau

The results are in from the Final Four match-ups in 2023’s Bridge Madness Tournament. The tournament features bridges or groups of bridges that are accessible to vehicles and pedestrians. From east to west, these bridges on the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers are the Highland Park Bridge, the 62nd Street or R.D. Fleming Bridge, the 40th Street or Washington’s Crossing Bridge, the 31st Street Bridge, the 16th Street or David McCullough Bridge, the Three Sisters Bridges (6th Street, 7th Street, and 9th Street), the Fort Duquesne Bridge, and the West End Bridge. From east to west, these bridges on the Monongahela River are the Homestead Greys Bridge, the Glenwood Bridge, the Hot Metal Bridges, the Birmingham Bridge, the South 10th Street Bridge, the Liberty Bridge, the Smithfield Bridge, and the Fort Pitt Bridge.

In the Allegheny and Ohio Conference

Bracket 7 was the 16th Street Bridge (46%) vs. the Three Sisters Bridges (37%) vs. the West End Bridge (17%).

In the Monongahela Conference

Bracket 7 was the Smithfield Bridge (55%) vs. the Hot Metal Bridges (45%).

The winners are matched up below for the Championship. Vote for your favorite bridge by noon on March 29, then check back on March 30 for the announcement of the winner.

Bridge Madness 2023 – Final Four(ish)

Posted on March 24, 2023 by Carolyn Ristau

The results are in from the Elite Eight match-ups in 2023’s Bridge Madness Tournament. The tournament features bridges or groups of bridges that are accessible to vehicles and pedestrians. From east to west, these bridges on the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers are the Highland Park Bridge, the 62nd Street or R.D. Fleming Bridge, the 40th Street or Washington’s Crossing Bridge, the 31st Street Bridge, the 16th Street or David McCullough Bridge, the Three Sisters Bridges (6th Street, 7th Street, and 9th Street), the Fort Duquesne Bridge, and the West End Bridge. From east to west, these bridges on the Monongahela River are the Homestead Greys Bridge, the Glenwood Bridge, the Hot Metal Bridges, the Birmingham Bridge, the South 10th Street Bridge, the Liberty Bridge, the Smithfield Bridge, and the Fort Pitt Bridge.

In the Allegheny and Ohio Conference

Bracket 5 was the West End Bridge (63%) vs. the Fort Duquesne Bridge (34%).

Bracket 6 was the Three Sisters Bridges (50%) vs. the 16th Street Bridge (50%).

In the Monongahela Conference

Bracket 5 was the Smithfield Bridge (79%) vs. the Fort Pitt Bridge (21%).

Bracket 4 was the Hot Metal Bridges (71%) vs. the South 10th Street Bridge (293%).

The winners in these brackets are matched up below for the Final Four. Vote for your favorite bridges below by noon on March 26, then check back on March 27 for the Championship.

Bridge Madness 2023 – Elite Eight Monongahela Round

Posted on March 21, 2023 by Carolyn Ristau

The results are in for the Monongahela River Bridges half of the Sweet Sixteen in 2023’s Bridge Madness Tournament. The tournament features bridges or groups of bridges that are accessible to vehicles and pedestrians. From east to west, these bridges on the Monongahela River are the Homestead Greys Bridge, the Glenwood Bridge, the Hot Metal Bridges, the Birmingham Bridge, the South 10th Street Bridge, the Liberty Bridge, the Smithfield Bridge, and the Fort Pitt Bridge.

Bracket 1 was Fort Pitt Bridge (55%) vs. Homestead Grays Bridge (45%).

Bracket 2 was Smithfield Bridge (95%) vs. Glenwood Bridge (5%).

Bracket 3 was the Hot Metal Bridges (70%) vs. Liberty Bridge (30%).

Bracket 4 was South 10th Street Bridge (53%) vs. the Birmingham Bridge (47%).

The winners in these brackets are matched up below for the Monongahela River Bridges half of the Elite Eight. Vote for your favorite bridges below by noon on March 23, then check back on March 24 for the Final Four match-ups featuring all rivers.

Bridge Madness – Elite Eight Allegheny & Ohio Round

Posted on March 18, 2023 by Carolyn Ristau

The results are in for the Allegheny and Ohio Bridges half of the Sweet Sixteen in 2023’s Bridge Madness Tournament. The tournament features bridges or groups of bridges that are accessible to vehicles and pedestrians. From east to west, these bridges on the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers are the Highland Park Bridge, the 62nd Street or R.D. Fleming Bridge, the 40th Street or Washington’s Crossing Bridge, the 31st Street Bridge, the 16th Street or David McCullough Bridge, the Three Sisters Bridges (6th Street, 7th Street, and 9th Street), the Fort Duquesne Bridge, and the West End Bridge.

Bracket 1 was the West End Bridge (80%) vs. the 62nd Street Bridge (20%).

Bracket 2 was Fort Duquesne Bridge (52%) vs. the 40th Street Bridge (48%).

Bracket 3 was the Three Sisters Bridges (92%) vs. the 31st Street Bridge (8%).

Bracket 4 was the 16th Street Bridge (77%) vs. the Highland Park Bridge (23%).

The winners in these brackets are matched up below for the Allegheny and Ohio Bridges half of the Elite Eight. Vote for your favorite bridges below by noon on March 20, then check back on March 21 for the Monongahela match-ups in the Elite Eight.

Bridge Madness – Sweet Sixteen Monongahela Round

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Carolyn Ristau

The 2023 Bridge Madness Tournament continues with the Monongahela Bridges half of the Sweet Sixteen. The tournament features bridges or groups of bridges that are accessible to vehicles and pedestrians. From east to west, these bridges on the Monongahela River are the Homestead Greys Bridge, the Glenwood Bridge, the Hot Metal Bridges, the Birmingham Bridge, the South 10th Street Bridge, the Liberty Bridge, the Smithfield Bridge, and the Fort Pitt Bridge. Vote for your favorite bridges below by noon on March 17, then check back on March 18 for the Allegheny and Ohio match-ups in the Elite Eight.

Bridge Madness – Sweet Sixteen Allegheny & Ohio Round

Posted on March 12, 2023 by Carolyn Ristau

The 2023 Bridge Madness Tournament kicks off with the Allegheny and Ohio Bridges half of the Sweet Sixteen. The tournament features bridges or groups of bridges that are accessible to vehicles and pedestrians. From east to west, these bridges on the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers are the Highland Park Bridge, the 62nd Street or R.D. Fleming Bridge, the 40th Street or Washington’s Crossing Bridge, the 31st Street Bridge, the 16th Street or David McCullough Bridge, the Three Sisters Bridges (6th Street, 7th Street, and 9th Street), the Fort Duquesne Bridge, and the West End Bridge. Vote for your favorite bridges below by noon on March 14, then check back on March 15 for the Monongahela match-ups in the Sweet Sixteen.

urbantraipsing

A site of urban exploration. Text and photos by Carolyn Ristau.

Tag Archives: bridges