This bridge was demolished in 2016!
Figure 13 Close-up of a barge, from deck. Photo taken 6/4/14.
Figure 12 View from deck, facing north. Photo taken 6/4/14.
Figure 11 Close-up of pier stonework.
Photo taken 6/4/14.
Figure 10 Pier structure.
Photo taken 6/4/14.
The loss of these historic bridges is greatly significant not only on the local but also national levels. In fact, the chief emeritus of the National Park Service’s Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), Eric DeLony, has gone on record stating that at the current rate of destruction, by 2025 all historic bridges that have not been recently rehabilitated or preserved will be gone within the state.[8] That is a staggering statistic, considering the richly important bridge history in Pennsylvania. With this in mind, the wanton destruction of a massive and beautiful bridge like the Hulton Bridge is completely unacceptable.
Figure 9 View from deck, facing south. Photo taken 6/4/14.
The destruction of the bridge is even more frustrating since PennDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) has demolished several large historic bridges over the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers in the last few years. PennDOT has shown no signs of slowing down as they have also slated the Donora-Webster Bridge for demolition.
Figure 8 Construction sign on bridge.
Photo taken 6/4/14.
Figure 7 New bridge construction.
Photo taken 6/4/14.
In fact, engineering students from Carnegie Mellon University have advocated a plan to preserve the bridge for pedestrian use . According the students’ plan, the Hulton Bridge would be converted to pedestrian and bicycle use, complete with flower boxes, safety rails, and new lighting. It would connect the city with the expanding Allegheny River Trail. Astoundingly, the students calculated that the bridge rehabilitation could cost as low as $300,000 (and help bring in between $250,000 and $500,000 in tourism) compared to the $6-10 million it would cost to detonate it.[7] Even if the figures are somewhat off, rehabilitation looks to be the cheaper, more responsible choice than destroying a historic and beautiful community asset like this bridge.
Figure 6 Truss elements. Photo taken 6/4/14.
The bridge’s replacement – an ugly and utterly boring four-lane concrete beam bridge that will cost about $75 million – is an understandable reality; the destruction of the original bridge is not.[6] The bridge should be rehabilitated for pedestrian use as the two bridges can easily coexist side-by-side.
Figure 5 Side view. Photo taken 6/4/14.
Figure 4 Truss elements. Photo taken 6/4/14.
Preservation:
Unfortunately, the bridge is slated for demolition. As seen in several of the photos, the replacement bridge is already being constructed next to the existing one (as of 2014). The major reason for the replacement project is not due to the structural integrity of the Hulton Bridge, but rather due to “chronic congestion.”[4] As witnessed firsthand, traffic often backs up when one approaches the bridge. This is due to the bridge’s narrow deck width that only contains one lane each way, despite handling about 24,000 vehicles each day.[5]
Figure 3 Truss elements. Photo taken 6/4/14.
Design:
The bridge is a large uncommon Pennsylvania through truss bridge. It has a total length of 1,544 feet, with the man span being 504.9 feet long.[3] It was designed by the Allegheny County Department of Public Works and built by the American Bridge Company of New York, New York.
Figure 2 Hulton Bridge from the (new) Allegheny River Turnpike Bridge.
Photo taken 10/3/14.
[1] Angell, Kate L. "Plan Presented to Save Hulton Bridge." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Post-Gazett.com, 24 Dec. 2009. Web. 04 July 2014.
[2] DeLony, Eric. "The Next Page: The Destruction of Our Historic Metal Bridges Is the Destruction of Our Heritage." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Post-Gazette.com, 05 July 2009. Web. 09 July 2014.
[3] HistoricBridges.org. National Bridge Inventory Data Sheet - Hulton Bridge. 2010. Raw data. Oakmont.
[4] DeLony, Eric. "The Next Page: The Destruction of Our Historic Metal Bridges Is the Destruction of Our Heritage." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Post-Gazette.com, 05 July 2009. Web. 09 July 2014.
[5] Angell, Kate L. "Plan Presented to Save Hulton Bridge." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Post-Gazett.com, 24 Dec. 2009. Web. 04 July 2014.
[6] DeLony, Eric. "The Next Page: The Destruction of Our Historic Metal Bridges Is the Destruction of Our Heritage." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Post-Gazette.com, 05 July 2009. Web. 09 July 2014.
[7] Angell, Kate L. "Plan Presented to Save Hulton Bridge." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Post-Gazett.com, 24 Dec. 2009. Web. 04 July 2014.
[8] DeLony, Eric. "The Next Page: The Destruction of Our Historic Metal Bridges Is the Destruction of Our Heritage." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Post-Gazette.com, 05 July 2009. Web. 09 July 2014.
Location:
Oakmont, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Hulton Road over Allegheny River.
History:
The Hulton Bridge, also known as Oakmont Bridge and the Jonathon Hulton Memorial Bridge, was first built between 1908 and 1909.[1] It is named for a local landowner who lived in the area, Johnathan Hulton. The Hulton family operated a ferry, beginning in 1864, on the river and continued to do so even after the bridge was built.[2] The bridge originally cost $306,000 to construct and was the first bridge built over the Allegheny River by the county.
Figure 1 Hulton Bridge. Photo taken 6/4/14.