Bridge in Shaler Township
Why it's listed
Built in 1915, this single-span stone arch bridge carries Birchfield Road over Pine Creek in Shaler Township, near Glenshaw in Allegheny County. Its arch spans sixty-three feet and is constructed of high quality ashlar masonry, with a voussoir ring of smooth-faced stone and an intrados of concrete with broken face edges. The structure measures 116 feet overall and sits in a rural setting. It is one of two stone arch bridges in Allegheny County nominated for listing, and the two are similar in materials and detail. The bridge is valued as an example of early twentieth century stone arch construction in western Pennsylvania, where few such bridges were located. It is regarded as illustrating the continuity of stone arch bridge building across Pennsylvania, and it retains its original form with no recorded alterations. The bridge is part of a group of Commonwealth-owned highway bridges nominated together.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the bridge as a fine example of an early twentieth century stone arch bridge, built of high quality ashlar construction with a single arch spanning sixty-three feet. It is one of two nominated stone arch bridges in Allegheny County, which are similar in materials and detail. The bridge is said to illustrate the continuity of stone arch bridge building in Pennsylvania and to retain excellent integrity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88000797, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Birchfield Rd. over Pine Creek, Glenshaw |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000797 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unaltered according to the integrity section of the form. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.54537, -79.95112 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88000797.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4966377
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.