Coraopolis Bridge
Why it's listed
Steel bowstring bridge crossing the back channel of the Ohio River, linking Coraopolis with the west end of Neville Island. Built in 1892 as the third Sixth Street Bridge, linking Pittsburgh and Allegheny, it carried trolleys as well as vehicles. Its two main spans, each 445 feet, are riveted steel trusses resting on three concrete piers, with portal-like steel archways at the span ends. Cooper, a nationally renowned engineer who had worked on the Eads Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge, was hired as consulting engineer, and Baird Brothers built it for $560,000. In 1919 the War Department ordered the older Allegheny River bridges replaced. The two main spans were floated down the Ohio on coal barges in 1927-28 and re-erected at Coraopolis, a move that took 140 days and cost $316,000. The bridge is regarded for its lacy girder design and for being the only surviving work of Cooper's design alone.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant for its design by engineer Theodore Cooper, its age and unusual history of relocation, and its transportation role at two locations. Cooper is described as a nationally renowned bridge engineer, and the bridge is reported to be the only surviving work solely of his design.
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 86000021, listed January 7, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Ohio River Back Channel at Ferree St. and Grand Ave., Coraopolis |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | January 7, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000021 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1881-1900 |
| Architect / builder | Theodore Cooper (engineer); Baird Brothers (builder) |
| Architectural style | Bowstring |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as part of a thematic group of Allegheny County-owned river bridges; present concrete deck carries two lanes of auto traffic. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 40.51611, -80.15177 (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 86000021.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q60324845
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.