David McCullough Bridge

David McCullough Bridge is a steel through arch bridge stretching across the Allegheny River with four substantial pillars topped with ornate sphere ornaments and horse sculptures. The structure accommodates both vehicular traffic and river navigation beneath its spans.

The structure was completed in 1922 as a replacement for an earlier bridge built at this location in 1838. It represents the fourth crossing constructed at this point on the river over the course of many decades.

The bridge links two neighborhoods and serves as a daily passage for locals moving through the city. Its decorated pillars with sphere ornaments and horse statues show how much Pittsburgh valued artistic touches on practical structures.

The bridge accommodates vehicle traffic on 16th Street and maintains adequate clearance for river vessels to pass underneath. Pedestrians can walk across, and viewing spots are available from nearby riverbanks.

The design firm Warren and Wetmore, who created New York's Grand Central Terminal, designed this bridge with its artistic details according to strict requirements from the city's art commission. This approach ensured the public structure would have genuine aesthetic value beyond its practical function.

Location: Pittsburgh

Inception: 1923

Length: 608 m

Longest Span: 133 m

GPS coordinates: 40.45167,-79.99083

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:44