Wissahickon Memorial Bridge, Concrete arch bridge in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, United States
The Wissahickon Memorial Bridge is a concrete arch bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spanning Wissahickon Creek and Lincoln Drive to connect the neighborhoods of East Falls and Roxborough. Built from reinforced concrete, it rises well above the valley floor and is clearly visible from the wooded slopes on either side.
The bridge was designed by architect Paul Philippe Cret and completed in 1932, replacing an older crossing that could no longer meet the demands of a growing city. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its architectural and civic value.
The bridge is named after residents of Philadelphia's northwest neighborhoods who served in World War I. Those crossing it today can look down into a deep, wooded valley that feels far removed from the city streets on either side.
The bridge can be crossed on foot or by car and is easy to reach from both East Falls and Roxborough. Pedestrians get an open view down into the Wissahickon Creek valley, so it is worth pausing on the walkway to take it in.
The original design included a lower deck intended for trolleys and a planned subway extension to Roxborough, neither of which was ever built. This unrealized layer beneath the bridge hints at how differently the city's northwest might have developed with rail connections.
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