Panhandle Bridge, Railway bridge in Pittsburgh, United States
Panhandle Bridge is a railway crossing over the Monongahela River that carries two rail tracks connecting downtown Pittsburgh to neighborhoods south of the river. The steel structure stands as a key link in the city's light rail system that moves passengers throughout the area.
The bridge was built in 1903 by the Pennsylvania Railroad as a replacement for earlier rail structures at the same location. It represents the third major crossing that has been constructed at this river point since the middle 1800s.
The bridge takes its name from the historic railroad route that once connected major cities across the region. Today it serves as a landmark that defines the river crossing for the thousands of commuters who use it daily.
The bridge is not open to pedestrians as it is reserved exclusively for train traffic. The best views of the structure can be found from the surrounding riverbanks or from nearby bridges that cross the river.
Between 1912 and 1914 the entire bridge structure was raised approximately 60 feet (18 m) in one of the city's most ambitious engineering projects. This lift was part of a broader urban effort to improve traffic flow and grade separation.
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