Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad Bridge

The Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad Bridge is a steel truss bridge spanning the Allegheny River between Plum and Harmar Township in Pennsylvania. The structure features a prominent main arch supported by intricate lattice girders that rise noticeably above the river valley.

The bridge was completed in 1918 to replace an earlier wooden structure from 1897. The new construction allowed the railroad to expand from single-track to double-track operations across the river.

The bridge represents advancements in American industrial engineering, documented by the Historic American Engineering Record for its structural design and regional importance.

The bridge allows river traffic to pass underneath with ample clearance for freight operations. The best views of the structure come from the river banks or from nearby accessible areas along the shore.

Buried beneath industrial slag from adjacent construction sites are remnants of the original approach structure. These hidden remains show how the older structure was simply covered over during the replacement.

Location: Allegheny County

Official opening: 1918

GPS coordinates: 40.53760,-79.82090

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:22