Bethlehem Steel Company Footbridge

Photos

Photo taken by Jodi Christman 7/23/2011

BH Photo #209660

Map

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Street View

Description

Location is Lower Works, Bethlehem Steel Corp. This bridge is the entrance gate to the lower works. The footbridge existed since the 1850s when this was originally Cambria Iron Works. There's speculation that the original (or an earlier bridge) had been washed out by the flood of 1936 so that would put the bridge construction date near the later part of the 1930s. Current owner: Johnstown Redevelopment Authority

Facts

Overview: Warren through truss bridge over Conemaugh River in Johnstown
Location: Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Status: Open to Pedestrians
History: Constructed circa 1930, western span rebuilt in 1977, restored in 2006
Design: Eastern span is original and built about 1930. It is a riveted Warren through truss. The western span was rebuilt after 1977 flood. It is a steel half-deck truss. Both is on concrete piers. It was restored in 2006 as part of Johnstown's draw for tourists. The restoration turned the western span back to the original Warren thru truss design.
Dimensions: Length of largest span: 75.0 ft.
Total length: 150.0 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude: +40.33640, -78.92490 (decimal degrees)
40°20'11" N, 78°55'30" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 17/676263/4467162 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:: Johnstown
Inventory number: BH 49382 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

November 26, 2021: Updated by Paul Plassman: Added truss type
June 1, 2017: New photos from Brian Manville
August 20, 2011: Updated by Luke Harden: tweaked a few things
August 20, 2011: Added by Jodi Christman

Sources

Jodi Christman - masterofchaos [at] outlook [dot] com
Cambria Iron Works / Johnstown's Revival - Discusses restoration of bridge and Cambria Iron Works
HAER Report PA-313-C - American Engineering Record
Luke
Johnstown Redevelopment Authority - Cambria Iron Lower Works restoration and repurposing
Brian Manville
Paul Plassman