South Tenth Street Bridge

South Tenth Street Bridge, most often called the Tenth Street Bridge, but officially dubbed the Philip Murray Bridge, is a suspension bridge spanning the Monongahela River in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the longest bridge spanning the Monongahela River and serves as the only cable suspension bridge across any of Pittsburgh's three rivers. The bridge was renamed on Labor Day 2007 for Philip Murray, the first president of the United Steelworkers of America.[1]

South Tenth Street Bridge
Coordinates40°25′57.06″N 79°59′21.17″W
Carries4 lanes of roadway
CrossesMonongahela River
LocalePittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Official namePhilip Murray Bridge
Characteristics
DesignSuspension bridge
Total length1,275 feet
Longest span725 feet
Clearance below50.3 feet
History
Opened1933
Location

The bridge was built in 1931 and connects South Tenth Street on the South Side to Second Avenue and the Armstrong Tunnel under the Bluff. A staircase leads from the northern terminus of the bridge up to the campus of Duquesne University on the Bluff. In 2015, the bridge was one of 3 bridges to have bike specific lanes installed.

History
View of bridge and Duquesne University from the South

The earliest proposal for a bridge near the site was to construct a toll bridge at Denman Street (now 12th Street). The company to build it was incorporated as the Birmingham Bridge and Road Company in 1837, and also had license to construct a road extending to the Monongahela and Coal Hill Turnpike (modern day Arlington Avenue and William Street). The project languished for many years, until the company was reincorporated as the Birmingham and Pittsburg Bridge Company in 1853, having fully abandoned plans to construct a road extending from the bridge. The site of the bridge was also changed to 10th Street.[2] The bridge was constructed as a covered wooden structure.

This bridge was bought by the city in 1896. Having been antiquated for some time, the bridge was reconstructed as with a Pratt Truss structure.[3] The bridge was reconstructed in 1931 as a suspension bridge.

See also

References
  1. United Steelworkers. "Steelworkers, Western Pennsylvania Union Members to Dedicate Philip Murray Bridge following Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade". Retrieved 2007-09-03.
  2. "The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 6, 1890 · Page 2". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  3. Fleming, George Thornton (1916). Pittsburgh, how to See it: A Complete, Reliable Guide Book with Illustrations, the Latest Map and Complete Index. W.G. Johnston.


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