Jerome Street Bridge

Location:
40°21′01″N 79°52′13″W

Description:

The Jerome Street Bridge, spanning the Youghiogheny River and linking the east and west sides of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, stands out as a rare steel crescent arch bridge. Unlike traditional arches, its design features distinct curves in both the intrados and extrados, forming a unique truss configuration at the apex and solid ribs at each end. Engineered by George S. Richardson and funded by a Great Depression-era public works bond, this auto-centric four-lane highway bridge was dedicated on May 3, 1938, with a grand ceremony attended by thousands.

Originally, the site was occupied by the Fifth Avenue Bridge, which catered primarily to streetcar traffic until the Jerome Street Bridge's construction rendered it obsolete. Plans to replace the downstream Third Avenue Bridge were reconsidered due to public outcry, and it ultimately closed to vehicles in 1960. Despite efforts to name the crossing after Mayor George Lysle, federal regulations prohibited such commemorations, leading to its designation as the Jerome Street Bridge, also known colloquially as the Lysle Boulevard Bridge. In 2022, a renovation project replaced the bridge deck with polyester polymer concrete, repaired the substructure, and updated the bearings, enhancing its durability and safety.