Boston Bridge, Cantilever road bridge in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Boston Bridge is a cantilever structure that spans the Youghiogheny River, connecting Versailles with Elizabeth Township in Allegheny County. The bridge provides two vehicle lanes and pedestrian walkways, with original railings and protective barriers installed to shield the main trusses from traffic impact.
Fort Pitt Bridge Works built this metal cantilever structure in 1931 using a rivet-connected Warren truss design. The construction reflects engineering practices common in that era for crossing major river valleys in western Pennsylvania.
The bridge carries Pennsylvania Route 48, known as the Orange Belt, and marks a point along the Youghiogheny River Trail, a former railroad corridor. Today it remains a practical link between communities in this part of western Pennsylvania.
The bridge remains open for regular vehicle and pedestrian traffic, with protective barriers keeping both types of users safe. Being an active transportation route, expect normal traffic patterns throughout the day.
The structure features large arch-shaped bracing elements near its main towers and an unusually smooth curved top chord. These design details set it apart from other steel cantilever bridges built during the same period.
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