Neville Island Bridge

{{Infobox bridge

|bridge_name= Neville Island Bridge

|image= NevilleIslandBridgePA.jpg

|image_size=300px

|caption=

|official_name=Pittsburgh Naval & Shipbuilders Memorial Bridge 1941–1945

|also_known_as=

|carries= 6 lanes of {{jct|state=PA|I|79}}20px

|crosses= Ohio River and Neville Island, Pennsylvania

|locale= Between Glenfield, Pennsylvania, Neville Township, Pennsylvania and Robinson Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

|maint=

|id=

|design= Steel bowstring arch bridge

|mainspan= 725 feet

|length=

|width=

|clearance=

|below= 68 feet

|traffic=

|open= 1976

|closed=

|toll=

|map_cue=

|map_image=

|map_text=

|map_width=

|coordinates= {{Coord|40.5133|-80.1347|region:US-PA_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

|lat=

|long=

}}

The Neville Island Bridge is a tied arch bridge which carries Interstate 79 and the Yellow Belt across the Ohio River and over Neville Island, west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Construction

Opening in 1976, after five years of construction, the Neville Island Bridge was the last link to finish on the 180 mile long I-79. It is also the second longest single spanning bridge in Allegheny County. The engineers, affiliated with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot), developed the bridge with a 125' arch.{{cite web|title=I-79, Neville Island Bridge|url=http://www.americanbridge.net/experience/experience_detail.php?prj_ab_id=NeviPitt02082004140201695|publisher=www.americanbridge.net|access-date=11 November 2012}}

History

In 1977, a crack was discovered in the bridge, causing it to sag about six feet.WQED Pittsburgh. Flying Off the Bridge to Nowhere! And Other Tales of Pittsburgh Bridges. Pittsburgh, 1990. The bridge was immediately closed to traffic and remained closed until repairs could be performed. It was determined that the crack was not due to poor bridge design, but due to a failed weld.{{cite journal |last1=Fisher|first1=John|last2=Pense|first2=Alan|last3=Hausamann|first3=Hans|title=Analysis of Cracking of I79 Bridge at Neville Island|url=https://cedb.asce.org/CEDBsearch/record.jsp?dockey=0046321|journal=Fracture Problems in the Transportation Industry|access-date=12 April 2019}}

During 2010 PennDot completed a $20.8 million improvement of I-79, Neville Island Bridge as well as other intersections.{{cite news|last=Schmitz|first=Jon|title=Neville Island Bridge project to bring closures, restrictions |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/transportation/neville-island-bridge-project-to-bring-closures-restrictions-353997/|publisher=www.post-gazette.com|access-date=11 November 2012|date=18 August 2009}}

A new restoration project formally began in August 2021; lane closures had been in effect on the northbound lanes since June. PennDOT contracted The Trumbull Corporation to complete the repairs at a cost of $43 million USD. Renovations include structural steel repairs, full structure painting, bearing and deck joint replacements, deck repairs and overlays, bridge barrier repair, substructure concrete work and drainage improvements. Work on the southbound lanes is expected to commence in 2022. The project includes long-term closure of the entrance ramp to I-79 from Grand Avenue, detoured via Neville Island, the Coraopolis Bridge, Pennsylvania Route 51 South, and to Exit 64. The on ramp has since reopened.{{cite web |title=Neville Island Bridge Preservation Project |url=https://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-11/ConstructionsProjectsAndRoadwork/AlleghenyCountyConstruction/Pages/NevilleIslandBridgePreservationProject.aspx |website=Pennsylvania Department of Transportation |publisher=PennDOT |access-date=8 September 2021}}