Andy Warhol Bridge

{{Short description|Bridge over the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US}}

{{Infobox bridge

| name = Andy Warhol Bridge

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| official_name = Andy Warhol Bridge

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| named_for = Andy Warhol

| image = HAER PBG 7thStreet 361498pv.jpg

| caption = From north bank of the Allegheny River, looking southwest, downtown Pittsburgh in background, Roberto Clemente Bridge at right.

Shows main plate girder (bearing compressive forces) and sidewalk support.

| coordinates = {{coord|40|26|46|N|80|00|05|W|display=inline,title}}

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| carries = Seventh Street

| crosses = Allegheny River

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| maint = Allegheny County

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| design = Suspension bridge

| length = {{convert|1061|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|62|ft|m|abbr=on}} Vertical clearance above 78 ft towers

| height = {{convert|83.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}

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| builder = American Bridge Company

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| begin = 1925

| complete = 1926

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| open = June 17, 1926

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{{Infobox NRHP

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| added = January 7, 1986

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| refnum = 86000018

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| designated_other1 = PHLF

| designated_other1_date = 1988{{cite book | url= http://www.phlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/Historic-Plaques-2010b.pdf |title=Historic Landmark Plaques 1968-2009 |publisher=Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation | location=Pittsburgh, PA | year=2010 | access-date=2024-01-04}}

}}

Andy Warhol Bridge, also known as the Seventh Street Bridge, spans the Allegheny River in Downtown Pittsburgh. It is the only bridge in the United States named for a visual artist. It was opened at a cost of $1.5 million{{cite web| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LUMqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GkoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6868%2C6791474| title = The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search}} on June 17, 1926, in a ceremony attended by 2,000.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LkMqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GkoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6383%2C7041791 The Pittsburgh Press – Google News Archive Search]

History and architectural features

Named for the artist Andy Warhol, a Pittsburgh native, this structure is one of three parallel bridges called The Three Sisters, the others being the Roberto Clemente Bridge and the Rachel Carson Bridge. The Three Sisters are self-anchored suspension bridges and are historically significant because they are the only trio of nearly identical bridges — as well as the first self-anchored suspension spans — built in the United States.

The bridge was renamed for Warhol on March 18, 2005, as part of the tenth-anniversary celebration for the Andy Warhol Museum. The museum is nearby at 117 Sandusky Street, a street which leads to the bridge from the north side of the river on Pittsburgh's North Shore.

On August 11, 2013, the Andy Warhol Bridge was covered with 580 knitted and crocheted panels in a yarn bombing project known as Knit the Bridge that lasted for four weeks.Hamilton, Anita (August 13, 2013). [https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/08/13/pittsburgh-bridge-gets-a-yarn-bomb-makeover/ "Pittsburgh Bridge Gets a 'Yarn Bomb' Makeover"]. Time.

This is the third bridge on the site, the first having been demolished in early 1884. Construction of its replacement began in 1884,{{cite news |title=A novel and profitable plan of construction for the new seventh street bridge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/85615744/ |access-date=5 October 2018 |publisher=Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette |date=23 Nov 1883 |page=2 |quote=(make the piers) longer than they are now which is sixty-six feet|via=newspapers.com}} opening to traffic in 1887.{{cite news |title=Local Laconics |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/270218596/ |access-date=5 October 2018 |work=Altoona Times |date=22 January 1887 |page=4 |quote=Levi H. Kantner, the 16-year-old son of Mr. D. T. Kantner, of the Altoona Gas Works, had the pleasure of being the first bicycler to cross the new Seventh street bridge on a wheel. Levi Kantner won't be beat in anything he undertakes that is, he won't if he can help it.|via=newspapers.com}}

Gallery

Image:Andy Warhol Bridge - 2.jpg|Western side of the bridge

Image:Andy Warhol Bridge - 3.jpg|Facing north on the bridge

Image:AndyWarholBridgePittsburghBanner.JPG|Banner for the bridge's namesake, Andy Warhol

Image:PGH knit the brdge.jpg|"Knit the Bridge" yarn bombing event on the bridge in August 2013

Image:Andy Warhol Bridge - 4.jpg|Historic plaque for Seventh Street Bridge

File:Duquesne Wharf ca. 1912 Pittsburgh.jpg|Duquesne Wharf, circa 1912, showing the second Seventh Street Bridge

References

Pohla Smith (2005). [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05078/474094.stm Warhol Bridge Dedication: story by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]. Retrieved April 23, 2006.

External links

{{HAER | survey = PA-490-B | id = pa3660 | title = Three Sisters Bridges, Seventh Street Bridge, Spanning Allegheny River at Seventh Street, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA | photos = 3 | color = 1 | dwgs = | data = | cap = 1}}
{{Structurae|id=20002306|title=Seventh Street Bridge}}

{{Crossings navbox

|structure = Bridges

|place = Allegheny River

|bridge = Andy Warhol Bridge

|bridge signs =

|upstream = Rachel Carson Bridge

|upstream signs =

|downstream = Roberto Clemente Bridge

|downstream signs =

}}

Warhol

Category:Bridges completed in 1926