Brilliant Branch Railroad Bridge

The Brilliant Branch Railroad Bridge is a steel railway crossing that spans the Allegheny River between Pittsburgh and Aspinwall. The structure features a truss design typical of early 1900s rail infrastructure and carries freight trains across the waterway.

The Pennsylvania Railroad built this bridge in 1904 as an alternative route to bypass congestion around central Pittsburgh. The project was part of the railroad's effort to improve its network efficiency during the early industrial boom of the region.

The bridge represents early twentieth-century industrial engineering methods with its metal truss design that characterized railroad infrastructure of that period.

The bridge is best viewed from the water or nearby riverside paths, as it is not open to pedestrian traffic. You can get good views from Allegheny parks and public areas along the riverbank where the structure comes into full view.

The name Brilliant Branch comes from a small tributary of the Allegheny River that once flowed through this area. Though the stream is barely visible today, it gave the bridge its name and connects visitors to the hidden water geography of the region.

Location: Pittsburgh

Location: Aspinwall

Official opening: 1904

GPS coordinates: 40.48660,-79.90530

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:23