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The characteristic shape of downtown Pittsburgh
is a triangular tract carved by the confluence
of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers,
where the Ohio River forms.
The skyline features 151 high-rise buildings,
446 bridges, two inclined railways,
and a pre-revolutionary fortification.

Pittsburgh is known colloquially as "The City of Bridges"
and "The Steel City" for its many bridges
and former steel manufacturing base.

Once a flat sea floor, millions of years of erosion
have carved the surface of Allegheny County
into a maze of ridges and valleys.

Pittsburgh sits where the Monongahela River
from the south, and the Allegheny River
from the north, join to form the Ohio.
Many named and unnamed tributaries
steadily cut through layers of sedimentary rock:
limestone, sandstone, shale, coal.

Today as one stands atop one of the many hilltops
above 1,200 feet, it is not difficult to imagine
that they were all part of a single, vast plateau,
sloping ever so gently down toward the northwest.

Pittsburgh and its suburbs are known
for steep hillsides covered with buildings,
streets which have steps for sidewalks,
and sidewalks which are named streets.

From the highest point in Allegheny County,
1,401 feet at River Hill in Forward Township, to
the 710 foot normal pool level of the Ohio River
at the Point in Pittsburgh,and down to the
682 foot elevation on the banks of the Ohio
as it exits the County in the west,
the elevation varies by a bit more than 700 feet.
Other locations may have greater relief,
but they are not as heavily urbanized;
other cities may be more densely built,
but they will tend to be on gentler terrain.

With topography such as this,it is not surprising
that there are so many bridges. One count reports
over 2,000 bridges of 8 feet span or greater.
Most types of bridges are represented in this area
with the exception of cable-stayed, pontoon,
or movable deck designs.

Bridge engineers hold their conventions here.
The Gateway Clipper Fleet offers guided
riverboat tours featuring the bridges.
It's virtually impossible to travel any
notable distance without crossing a bridge.

Long ago, indian trails crossed the area,
often following the tops of the ridges
to avoid any stream crossings.
But with the European conquest and settlement,
and nearly simultaneous start of road-building,
it was not long before stream fording was replaced
by the first simple bridges in the area.
In fact, commenting on the British General Braddock's
march to the Point in 1755, Colonel George Washington
remarked: "instead of pushing on with vigor
they were halting to level every mole-hill and
to erect bridges over every brook,
by which means we were four days
in getting twelve miles."

Mount Washington, formerly Coal Hill, rises
over 400 feet above the Monongahela River
opposite downtown Pittsburgh.
This and other ridges and hills were
once tunneled into for coal.
Now they are tunneled
through for transportation.

More than 29 bridges cross the three rivers.
There are arch bridges, beam bridges,
suspension bridges, a bridge made completely from
coral and even a bridge inside the USX Tower.
There is also a bridge that is completely
underneath a fountain in Oakland.
The Bellefield Bridge was buried when the city
filled what was called St. Pierre's Ravine,
which is where the new park is between
the Carnegie Library and Hillman Library.

All together, a total of 446 bridges
are in the city of Pittsburgh, offically the
city with the most bridges in the world,
three more than former world leader Venice, Italy.





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Page was Created with Love and Pride in my home town

by

Joanne Murray Vereb
GabbiAsh@aol.com

Gráím thú

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May 20, 2009

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