Fort Duquesne Bridge

Fort Duquesne Bridge is a highway bridge featuring a steel bowstring arch design that spans the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh. The structure carries two separate traffic decks on different levels to accommodate bidirectional flow across the river.

Construction started in 1958 and the main structure was completed in 1963, but the crossing could not serve traffic immediately due to missing ramps on the northern side. These approach roads were not finished until 1969, creating a six-year gap between structural completion and full functionality.

The structure holds a place in Pittsburgh's collective memory through the events that unfolded during its construction, becoming part of the city's lore through stories passed down over generations.

Visitors can view the structure from the riverbank or from various vantage points around downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore. The best approach is to walk along the river paths or nearby streets to see the arch and upper decks from different angles.

The most unusual story connected to this crossing came in 1964 when a driver drove his car off the unfinished northern end, creating a local legend that persists today. The incident became part of Pittsburgh's collective storytelling and shaped how people remember the bridge's troubled early years.

Location: Pittsburgh

GPS coordinates: 40.44430,-80.00930

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:40