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THE CITY AND THE ALLEGHENY RIVER BRIDGES

Recommendations for Bridge Heights and Pier Location to Meet the Various Transportation Needs of Pittsburgh

BY COLONEL THOMAS W. SYMONS AND FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED

INTRODUCTION

March 15th, 1910, upon recommendation of the Committee on City Planning, the Pittsburgh Civic Commission authorized Colonel Thomas W. Symons, Corps Engineers, U. S. A. retired, and Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted to make a report upon desirable heights and pier locations for bridges over the Allegheny River. The purpose of the Commission was to secure a report which weighed the interests of all parties to the bridge question, and which would strike a balance to meet the various transportation needs of Pittsburgh.

The Commission asked the Committee on City Planning to direct the preparation of the report. The Committee consists of T. E. Billquist, chairman; Charles F. Chubb, H. J. Heinz, Benno Janssen, Richard Kiehnel, E. K. Morse. This committee passed upon the report April 18th and recommended it to the Commission for adoption. On April 25th the Commission received and adopted the report and voted their hearty appreciation of the work of Colonel Symons, Mr. Olmsted and the Committee on City Planning. This report was published separately in May 1910.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. That the Sixteenth Street and Forty-third Street bridges, which are obstructions to navigation on account of their pier locations, narrow channels, and exceptionally low clearance height, be required to be rebuilt with their piers so located as to give channels conforming to the neighboring bridges, and that their elevation be fixed with regard to eliminating the railroad grade crossings on their approaches, but the minimum clearance shall be fixed in accordance with the closing paragraph below.

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Last modified on 22-Dec 1999
Design format: copyright 1997-1999 Bruce S. Cridlebaugh
Original document: Frederick Law Olmsted, 1910