Project Background
The City of Pittsburgh, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), is advancing the Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge project.
The bridge is a critical link on Boulevard of the Allies, a roadway connecting Squirrel Hill and Greenfield to Oakland and downtown. The bridge also serves as a key entrance to Schenley Park, carrying the Boulevard over the Junction Hollow trails and CSX railroad.
The existing continuous, three-span, steel structure (built in 1939) is individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion C for its engineering significance as a Wichert Truss bridge. The structure is also a contributing element of the NRHP-listed Schenley Park Historic District.
This eligibility is factored into the preliminary analysis and design when determining what various bridge enhancements are feasible. In addition, care is given to reducing pain-points for those who use the bridge, i.e. how to minimize frustrating detours or overlapping construction with adjacent infrastructure projects. This project aims to modernize the Charles Anderson Bridge with an emphasis on safety for all users of the bridge. While the engineering will take several more years, we aim to provide updates on our progress, what you can expect during construction, and what to look forward to when it's complete. Questions, comments, and feedback can be submitted at the bottom of this page.
Project Update, Winter 2022
In the fall of 2019, DOMI and the design team held a series of public meetings to collect feedback and concerns from the communities who use the bridge or will be impacted during the rehabilitation of the structure. This feedback was instrumental in shaping the course of the preliminary analysis and design work completed on the project so far.
Investigation into the feasibility of rehabilitating the structure and preserving its historical features was just kicking off as the pandemic upended the existing channels for community outreach.
After much deliberation, we're pleased to report the conclusion of the feasibility study that it is both feasible and prudent to rehabilitate the historical bridge while still improving upon the layout of the structure to reflect how Pittsburghers traverse Schenley Park today.
The City and the design team have prepared the following project update available in PDF format, below. As the project turns its focus to engineering in 2022, more frequent status updates will be available for your feedback.
Document Library
We would appreciate your comments on the presentation so we can best incorporate feedback into the engineering of the rehabilitation project.
Questions, Comments, Feedback
Please use this tool to share with the City any questions, comments, or feedback about the project. Thanks!