Emlenton Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Emlenton Bridge is a steel deck truss
bridge that spans the Allegheny River
just south of the town of Emlenton, Pennsylvania
at approximately mile marker 44.4 on I-80. With a height of 270 feet (82.3 m) above the river, the Emlenton Bridge was the highest bridge in the Interstate Highway System
when completed in 1968 (The Lewiston-Queenston Bridge
is higher but is technically an international bridge, not part of the Interstate Highway system). This record was held until 1971 with the opening of the Fred G. Redmon Bridge
near Selah, Washington
.
The Emlenton Bridge remains the highest road bridge in Pennsylvania; with an overall span of 1668 feet (508.4 m) it was the largest bridge constructed as part of the Keystone Shortway project. With the completion of the Interstate System, it is likely that the Emlenton Bridge will remain the fourth highest bridge in the system for a significant time, behind the Glade Creek Bridge in West Virginia
, the Pine Valley Creek Bridge
in California
, and the aforementioned Redmon Bridge.
The bridge was designed by the consultant Buchart-Horn led by Ted Andrzejewski, an acquaintance of the noted bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski
. The contractor of record is Brodhead Construction located in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
.
An interesting fact about the Emlenton Bridge is that due to its size, and geography
of the land, is actually located in three different Pennsylvania counties. One side of the bridge is in Venango County, the other in Clarion County, but the southwest abutment resides in Butler County
.
Truss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in...
bridge that spans the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
just south of the town of Emlenton, Pennsylvania
Emlenton, Pennsylvania
Emlenton is a borough located mostly in Venango County, in the southeastern corner of the county, with a small portion located in Clarion County in Pennsylvania. The population was 784 at the 2000 census...
at approximately mile marker 44.4 on I-80. With a height of 270 feet (82.3 m) above the river, the Emlenton Bridge was the highest bridge in the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
when completed in 1968 (The Lewiston-Queenston Bridge
Lewiston-Queenston Bridge
The Lewiston–Queenston Bridge is an arch bridge that crosses the Niagara River gorge just south of the Niagara Escarpment. The bridge was officially opened on November 1, 1962. It is an international bridge between the United States and Canada. It connects Interstate 190 in the town of Lewiston,...
is higher but is technically an international bridge, not part of the Interstate Highway system). This record was held until 1971 with the opening of the Fred G. Redmon Bridge
Fred G. Redmon Bridge
The Fred G. Redmon Bridge, also known as the Selah Creek Bridge, is a twin arch bridge that spans Selah Creek near Selah, Washington.-Construction:...
near Selah, Washington
Selah, Washington
Selah is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,147 at the 2010 census.-History:Selah was officially incorporated on April 3, 1919. The government is a Strong Mayor/Council form. The Tree Top apple processor co-operative has its headquarters and two processing...
.
The Emlenton Bridge remains the highest road bridge in Pennsylvania; with an overall span of 1668 feet (508.4 m) it was the largest bridge constructed as part of the Keystone Shortway project. With the completion of the Interstate System, it is likely that the Emlenton Bridge will remain the fourth highest bridge in the system for a significant time, behind the Glade Creek Bridge in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, the Pine Valley Creek Bridge
Pine Valley Creek Bridge
The Pine Valley Creek Bridge, also known as Nello Irwin Greer Memorial Bridge, is a reinforced concrete box girder bridge in California, built in 1974 as part of the Interstate 8 freeway system. At the time of its construction, it was the first bridge constructed in the United States using the...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and the aforementioned Redmon Bridge.
The bridge was designed by the consultant Buchart-Horn led by Ted Andrzejewski, an acquaintance of the noted bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski
Ralph Modjeski
Ralph Modjeski was a Polish-born American civil engineer who achieved prominence as a pre-eminent bridge designer in the United States.-Life:...
. The contractor of record is Brodhead Construction located in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Aliquippa is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 9,438 at the 2010 census. Formerly a borough, it was formally named a city in 1987 by the Aliquippa Council.-History:...
.
An interesting fact about the Emlenton Bridge is that due to its size, and geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
of the land, is actually located in three different Pennsylvania counties. One side of the bridge is in Venango County, the other in Clarion County, but the southwest abutment resides in Butler County
Butler County
Butler County is the name of eight counties in the United States:* Butler County, Alabama* Butler County, Iowa* Butler County, Kansas* Butler County, Kentucky* Butler County, Missouri* Butler County, Nebraska* Butler County, Ohio...
.
External links
- http://www.pahighways.com/interstates/I80.html