George Westinghouse Bridge
By James M. Owston. - Photo taken by James M. Owston on January 16, 2006.
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The George Westinghouse Memorial Bridge, spanning Turtle Creek at the western edge of North Versailles Township and East Pittsburgh, is an engineering marvel and a beloved landmark. Designed by engineers Vernon R. Covell and George S. Richardson with architectural contributions by Stanley Roush, it was constructed from 1929 to its grand opening on September 10, 1932—tragically marking it at that time as having the world’s longest concrete arch span. Stretching 1,598 ft (487 m) across five reinforced‑concrete open‑spandrel arches—with the center arch measuring 460 ft (140 m) and the deck soaring 240 ft (73 m) above the valley floor—the bridge carries U.S. Route 30, the historic Lincoln Highway, across the dramatic Turtle Creek Valley.
Built for approximately $1.75 million, the bridge honored famed industrialist and engineer George Westinghouse—founder of Westinghouse Electric Corporation and inventor of the railway air brake. At its entrances stand four impressive Art Deco pylons featuring granite reliefs by sculptor Frank Vittor, which symbolize key themes—transportation, electricity, steel, and valley pioneers—and were carved between 1934 and 1936.
From its lofty vantage, drivers are treated to sweeping views of the Edgar Thomson Steel Works and Kennywood Park, and glimpse the former Westinghouse Electric facility—now an industrial park—just below. Declared a Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation landmark in 1984 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, the bridge remains a symbol of Pittsburgh’s legacy of innovation and industrial might.
As noted in the Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette, the bridge “claims a place in the select company of other great engineering achievements of recent years”. It was also featured in the film Warrior (2011), underscoring its cultural as well as structural significance .
Today, the George Westinghouse Memorial Bridge stands as both a vital transportation link and a monumental tribute—to engineering, industry, and the vision of one of America’s foremost innovators.
