Neville Island Bridge

The Neville Island Bridge is a tied arch bridge which carries Interstate 79 and the Yellow Belt across the Ohio River and over Neville Island, west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1]

Neville Island Bridge
Coordinates	40.5133°N 80.1347°W / 40.5133; -80.1347
Carries	6 lanes of I-79
Crosses	Ohio River and Neville Island, Pennsylvania
Locale	Between Glenfield, Pennsylvania, Neville Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and Robinson Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Official name	Pittsburgh Naval & Shipbuilders Memorial Bridge 1941–1945
Characteristics
Design	Steel bowstring arch bridge
Longest span	725 feet
Clearance below	68 feet
History
Opened	1976

Construction

Opening in 1976, after five years of construction, the Neville Island Bridge was the last link to finish on the 180 mile long I-79. It is also the second longest single spanning bridge in Allegheny County. The engineers who built it were the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot), making it with a 125' arch.[2]

Problems

In 1977, a crack was discovered in the bridge. The bridge was immediately closed to traffic and remained closed until repairs could be performed. It was determined that the crack was not due to poor bridge design, but due to a failed weld.[3]

Improvements

During 2010 PennDot completed a $20.8 million improvement of I-79, Neville Island Bridge as well as other intersections.[4]

See also

• List of crossings of the Ohio River

References

1. "unknown". pghbridges.com. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
2. "I-79, Neville Island Bridge". www.americanbridge.net. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
3. Fisher, John; Pense, Alan; Hausamann, Hans. "Analysis of Cracking of I79 Bridge at Neville Island". Retrieved 12 April 2019. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
4. Schmitz, Jon (18 August 2009). "Neville Island Bridge project to bring closures, restrictions". www.post-gazette.com. Retrieved 11 November 2012.