The Smithton Low-Level Bridge is a structure that carries
Pennsylvania Route 981
Pennsylvania Route 981 (PA 981) is a state highway which runs across Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, in southwestern Pennsylvania, United States. The highway begins at Pennsylvania Route 51, PA 51 in Rostraver Township, Pe ...
across the
Youghiogheny River
The Youghiogheny River , or the Yough (pronounced Yok ) for short, is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed August 15, 2011 tributary of the Monongahela River in the U.S. s ...
between
South Huntingdon Township and
Rostraver Township, just south of
Smithton, Pennsylvania
Smithton is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 399 at the 2010 census. As of 2018, the population was listed at 378. Smithton has its own post office, with zip code 15479, and is serviced by Yough Sch ...
.
The previous structure on this site was a
cantilever bridge
A cantilever bridge is a bridge built using structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end (called cantilevers). For small footbridges, the cantilevers may be simple beam (structure), beams; however, large cantilever ...
built in 1900 to connect Smithton, which was then thriving due to its brewery, with residences on the west bank of the river; a state court ruled in favor of petitioners who demanded the creation of a bridge, but ordered that they contribute $1,200 in construction costs.
Until the completion of the
Smithton High-Level Bridge in 1956 (which eventually became part of busy
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 (I-70) is a major east–west Interstate Highway System, Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15, I-15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a park and ride lot just east of Interstate 695 (Maryland), I-695 in ...
), this structure was one of the most important vehicular crossings of the river. In 1986, the original bridge was replaced by a modern
girder bridge
A girder bridge is a bridge that uses girders as the means of supporting its deck. The two most common types of modern steel girder bridges are plate and box.
The term "girder" is often used interchangeably with "beam" in reference to bridge de ...
.
See also
*
References
External links
*
National Bridge Inventory
Bridges in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Bridges completed in 1986
Historic American Engineering Record in Pennsylvania
Road bridges in Pennsylvania
Bridges over the Youghiogheny River
Cantilever bridges in the United States
Girder bridges in the United States
1986 establishments in Pennsylvania
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