Favorite and Least Favorite Bridges (Pittsburgh, McKees Rocks: homes, neighborhoods, construction)

[Caladium]

Whenever I visit a city I like to check out the bridges. I'd guess Pittsburgh has some interesting ones. Which ones would you recommend for a visitor?

Which ones are your favorite and least favorite?

Also, please note why (such as having a nice view, needing repairs, cool artwork, being a great shortcut, having congested traffic, or whatever.) In particular I'd like to know which bridges are in need of a lot of repair work right now, since that makes me a little nervous.

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

I don't like driving across any of them and the Fort Pitt Bridge is scary and intimidating!! Too much goin' on.

I guess the least intimidating bridge for me is the Birmingham Bridge because of its wide lanes.

[ML North]

Definitely the Swinburne Bridge for the following reasons:

1.)Not many people know of it

2.)It provides a great route from Oakland to Southside

3.)It provides a great route to Big Jims

The most aesthetically appealing to me is probably the Smithfield Street Bridge.

[slamont61]

The West End Bridge is a beauty and offers the best view of Downtown - from the rivers. Of course the Smithfield Street Bridge is one of the oldest and is a nice walk.

There are Soooo many cool bridges to see in the area. Here is a site dedicated to the Bridges and Tunnels in Allegheny County. Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, PA - pghbridges.com

[Tinare]

The Smithfield Street Bridge is an historic one --

Downtown: Bridges: Smithfield Street

I like the Westinghouse Bridge for its size and height. It's probably more impressive looking at the bridge from down in the valley then from on the bridge itself, though you can get a view of downtown from on the bridge.

George Westinghouse Memorial Bridge - Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, PA

My least favorite is the Liberty Bridge. Ironically, it's probably the one I drive on most often. But, it's similar in build to the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis, so I think of that too often...

Liberty Bridge - Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, PA

[Blackbeauty212]

Favorite

Sister Bridges
Smithfield
West End
10th
16th
Liberty

Least favorite
31st
40th
High Level
Rankin
Vets
Highland Park

[gallacus]

My least favorite of all the bridges in Pittsburgh is the Birmingham Bridge. I don't like its ugly green color, which has over the years faded to an even uglier green color. Not to mention they can't keep people from spraying graffiti all over it, so it just feels like a dumpy bridge to me.

The structure of the Veteran's Bridge is nothing to write home about, but the views you get of the city when you cross it are awesome, so I actually like this bridge. I also like the Liberty Bridge for the same reason.

The Three Sisters are very beautiful bridges, and I love the feel you get when you cross them heading into the city, it makes Pittsburgh feel very metropolitan. Also, they are noted for being the only three identical bridges in the world.

The 16th Street Bridge is a beautiful bridge, I love the design of it, as well as the beautiful bronze sculptures on all four corners.

The Smithfield Bridge is beautiful, and is cool because it was designed by Roebling, the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge. It's also nice at night as they've lit the bridge with some decorative lights.

I also love the structure of the West End Bridge, it is so tall! It also, like most bridges in Pittsburgh, provides great views of the city.

And, you can't beat the amazing view you get of the city when entering the city over the Fort Pitt Bridge. It just pops at you as soon as you exit the tunnel.

Really, you can't go wrong just exploring all of Pittsburgh's bridges!

[Geeo]

Pittsburgh is kind of Nirvana for bridge engineers. There's a national bridge convention that's held here every couple of years and you can see them out touring and taking pictures. I think Pittsburgh has an example of almost all types of bridge construction except true suspension (Golden Gate Bridge type).

My favorites:

Smithfield Street
West End
Westinghouse
Three Sisters
Sixteenth Street
Tenth Street
McKees Rocks (almost a mile long!)
Ft. Pitt - for the view coming into the city

I absolutely hate the Veterans Bridge. No style at all.

[WestLibertyAve]

The Smithfield Street Bridge is a must-see because of the historical and aesthetic value it has. My favorite is probably the Hot Metal though because every time I drive over it I imagine the purpose it once served.

Homestead hi-level is another cool one, although the best view is from below (visit the Waterfront shopping complex which is situated underneath) and if you feel like taking a journey outside the city, the Joe Montana Bridges on Interstate 43 are the highest you'll find in the region.

[greg42]

For bridge structure, I like the 16th Street especially, for some reason. Smithfield Street is a good one though for its historic design that has been pretty much erased from everywhere else.

For view there's nothing better than going through the Ft Pitt Tunnel and onto the Ft Pitt Bridge. That whole "Now you don't see it, now you DO!" effect is still cool even after seeing it probably a couple hundred times