Harrison Avenue Bridge
Encyclopedia
Harrison Avenue Bridge is a concrete deck arch bridge
carrying Harrison Avenue (unsigned SR 6011) in Scranton, Pennsylvania
, United States
. Its three spans include an open-spandrel ribbed arch over Roaring Brook
, flanked by two closed-spandrel arches. The southwestern closed-spandrel arch spans the former Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad
(Laurel Line), converted to highway use in 1964 as the Central Scranton Expressway. The northeastern closed-spandrel arch spans the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
, now a heritage railroad
operated by Steamtown National Historic Site
.
The bridge is notable as an example of Progressive Era
civic involvement, its construction having been promoted by a citizens' group called the South to East Scranton Bridge Association. It was designed by New York City
-based consulting engineer Abraham Burton Cohen
, although Scranton Department of Public Works chief engineer William A. Schunk and his assistant Charles F. Schroeder were more actively involved in day-to-day supervision of construction. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1988.
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
carrying Harrison Avenue (unsigned SR 6011) in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its three spans include an open-spandrel ribbed arch over Roaring Brook
Roaring Brook
The Roaring Brook is a tributary of the Cruser Brook. It is found in Somerset county, New Jersey, United States.-Course:The Roaring Brook starts at , on Sourland Mountain. It flows southeast until it joins the Cruser Brook at the edge of Sourland Mountain at .-External links:*...
, flanked by two closed-spandrel arches. The southwestern closed-spandrel arch spans the former Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad
Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad
The Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railroad, more commonly known as the Laurel Line, was a Pennsylvania third rail electric interurban streetcar line which operated commuter train service from 1903 to 1952, and freight service until 1976.-History:...
(Laurel Line), converted to highway use in 1964 as the Central Scranton Expressway. The northeastern closed-spandrel arch spans the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
, now a heritage railroad
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
operated by Steamtown National Historic Site
Steamtown National Historic Site
Steamtown National Historic Site is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located on in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad . The museum is built around a working replica turntable and a roundhouse that is...
.
The bridge is notable as an example of Progressive Era
Progressive Era
The Progressive Era in the United States was a period of social activism and political reform that flourished from the 1890s to the 1920s. One main goal of the Progressive movement was purification of government, as Progressives tried to eliminate corruption by exposing and undercutting political...
civic involvement, its construction having been promoted by a citizens' group called the South to East Scranton Bridge Association. It was designed by New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based consulting engineer Abraham Burton Cohen
Abraham Burton Cohen
Abraham Burton Cohen was an American civil engineer notable for his role in designing innovative and record-breaking concrete bridges such as the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad's Tunkhannock Viaduct, the world's largest concrete structure when completed...
, although Scranton Department of Public Works chief engineer William A. Schunk and his assistant Charles F. Schroeder were more actively involved in day-to-day supervision of construction. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1988.
See also
- List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Lackawanna County, PennsylvaniaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Lackawanna County, PennsylvaniaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States...
External links
- Anthracite Bridge Company information at StructuraeStructuraeStructurae is an online database containing works of structural and civil engineering of all kinds such as bridges, high-rise buildings, towers, dams, etc. Additionally, the database contains information on companies and persons involved in the design or construction of the structures...