White's Bridge - Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, PA

1893 drawing (White's Bridge behind; McKeesport Connecting RR bridge in foreground)

OFFICIAL NAME:

OTHER DESIGNATION:
White's Bridge
McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge

LOCATION:
Duquesne - McKeesport

USGS 7.5" Topo Quad - UTM Coordinates:
McKeesport - Zone 17; 0598 4467

CARRIED:
street railway, motor vehicles

BETWEEN:
-- Fifth Av, Jerome Alley on right descending bank of Monongahela River
-- River Rd [Dravosburg-Duquesne Rd] on left descending bank of Monongahela River

CROSSED:
-- (RDB to LDB) B&O RR; PRR; PLE RR; Port Perry road; USS National Tube Works site, Monongahela River at mile 14.1; Union RR; PRR

TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN:
Pratt though trusses

LENGTH OF MAIN SPAN:

TOTAL LENGTH (including longest elevated ramp):

HEIGHT OF DECK:

YEAR ERECTED / ENGINEER:
1891, White Electric Traction Co.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Replaced in 1928 on essentially the same location. The newer bridge looks much like the old one. The 1893 drawing shows White's Bridge in back of the still standing railroad bridge.

White's Bridge was built by T.L. White and James E. White of the White Electric Traction Co. to connect the cities of McKeesport and Duquesne. The bridge was built in 1891. It provided a passenger link to the PRR passenger depot in Duquesne as the PRR line into McKeesport offered only freight service.

The proposed Alliquippa Incline from the bridge to the heights above Duquesne was never built. Financial mismanagement forced the Whites into bankruptcy. Of the several competitors looking to take over the strategic line, the McKeesport, Wilmerding and Duquesne Rwy. Co. acquired it in March 1898.

The city of McKeesport wanted the bridge raised because the approach near the Versailles Cemetery (Riverton) included grade crossings with 3 railroads. The solution was to build a 693-ft viaduct to cross the railroads and land on Jerome Alley, now Lysle Blvd.

Monongahela Street Railway leased track rights between the city and ultimately the track was transferred to Pittsburgh Railways and the Port Authority of Allegheny County.

FIELD CHECKED:
03-June-2000

INFO SOURCES:
USACE Monongahela River Nav. Charts; Beal, "McKeesport Trolleys"

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Introduction -- Nearby Structures

Page created:
Last modified: 20-Feb-2001

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