Birmingham Bridge

Birmingham Bridge is a road bridge across the Monongahela River with six traffic lanes and a pedestrian pathway on the downstream side. The structure spans between East Carson Street on the South Side and Fifth and Forbes Avenues, linking downtown neighborhoods and commercial districts.

Construction finished in 1976, replacing the earlier South 22nd Street Bridge. The Pennsylvania General Assembly officially gave it the name Birmingham in March 1977.

The name honors the English city of Birmingham and recalls a former Pittsburgh neighborhood that merged into the South Side. Walking across the bridge, you can see how the surrounding area reflects this historical connection through its street names and local character.

The bridge is straightforward to cross on foot or by car, with good lighting and a wide pedestrian path for safety. Daytime visits offer the clearest river views and most predictable crossing conditions.

The southern approach features unused concrete ramp stubs, leftovers from an abandoned inner-city belt highway project. These remnants stand as physical reminders of a mid-century urban planning vision that was never fully built.

Location: Pittsburgh

Inception: September 2, 1977

GPS coordinates: 40.43340,-79.97350

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:41