Fortieth Street Bridge
Also known as: Washington Crossing Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning the Allegheny River and railroad tracks between Pittsburgh and Millvale, this bridge opened to traffic on December 24, 1924. Its main span is a riveted steel deck arch about 308 feet long, and the full crossing measures 2,366 feet across fifteen spans. Massive concrete piers and abutments support the steel structure. Abstract classical detailing and railing plaques showing the original 13 colonies give the bridge its historic character. The bridge was designed between 1919 and 1924 under Allegheny County engineers J.G. Chalfont and V.R. Covell, and it is significant for engineering. Its opening date coincides with the anniversary of George Washington's 1753 crossing of the river, which the bridge commemorates. Covell later became Chief Engineer for Pittsburgh's Bureau of Bridges and designed several innovative bridges in the city. The bridge was reconstructed in 1969.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant under engineering, as the only long-span deck arch bridge included in the nomination. It commemorates George Washington's crossing of the river on December 24, 1753, and its railing plaques depicting the original 13 colonies support its historic theme. The Allegheny County engineers who reviewed its plans, V.R. Covell and J.G. Chalfont, are also noted, with Covell later serving as Chief Engineer for Pittsburgh's Bureau of Bridges.
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 88000820, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Fortieth St. over Allegheny River, Millvale |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000820 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1919-1924 |
| Architect / builder | Benno Tansson (designer/engineer); H. V. Converse & Co.; McClintic-Marshall Co. (builder/contractor) |
| Architectural style | Abstract classical detailing |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Open to traffic since 1924; major reconstruction in 1969. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.47355, -79.96970 (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 88000820.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7971800
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.