Greenfield Bridge

Greenfield Bridge
Coordinates 40°25′42″N 79°56′17″W / 40.4282°N 79.9380°W / 40.4282; -79.9380Coordinates: 40°25′42″N 79°56′17″W / 40.4282°N 79.9380°W / 40.4282; -79.9380
Official name Beechwood Boulevard Bridge
Characteristics
Material Concrete
Total length 466' total length
Width 36'7" roadway and sidewalks
History
Architect Stanley L. Roush
Designer Charles M. Reppert
Construction end December 1922
Construction cost $370,000
Opened 1923
Rebuilt 2017 (planned)
Closed 2015

The Greenfield Bridge, officially known as the Beechwood Boulevard Bridge, was a concrete arch bridge located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.[1] The bridge spanned the Parkway East (I-376) between the Greenfield and Oakland neighborhoods.

History

The bridge during construction in 1922
The bridge in 2003

The Greenfield Bridge was originally constructed in 1921-1923.[2] It was completed by December 1922, but some of the approaches still needed to be filled in. The final cost was $370,000.[3]

By the late 1980s, the bridge had begun to enter decline. In September 1989 debris from the bridge impacted cars, injuring three. By this point nets had been placed under the bridge.[4] 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.[5]

The bridge was imploded on December 28, 2015 at 9:20 am.[6] 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.[7]

The bridge was mentioned on the March 1, 2015 episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver concerning infrastructure.[8]

"And it's not just Philadelphia, look at Pittsburgh - The City of Bridges - and its solution to one that was dangerously deteriorated. ... They built a bridge under the bridge. That is a college sophomore approach to structural engineering. 'Yeah the trash was overflowing so I just started putting it in the microwave - problem solved, I'm a legend'."[9]

References

  1. ↑ http://phlf.org/2013/02/01/beechwood-boulevard-greenfield-bridge-to-be-replaced/
  2. ↑ "Greenfield Bridge Project - Pittsburgh, PA".
  3. ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Boulevard Bridge To Be Opened to the Public This Month", December 9, 1922; page 1
  4. ↑ The Indiana Gazette "Chunks of Bridge Damage Cars" September 16, 1989; page 1
  5. ↑ The Indiana Gazette "Chunks Fell Off Bridge, Says Driver" September 19, 1989; page 3
  6. ↑ "After nearly a century, 'grand' old Greenfield Bridge makes way for the new". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  7. ↑ "Parkway East reopens ahead of schedule after Greenfield Bridge...".
  8. ↑ "John Oliver points out a terrifying thing about this seemingly normal photo of a bridge.". Upworthy.
  9. ↑ Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Season 2, Episode 4
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