Westinghouse, George, Memorial Bridge
Why it's listed
Reinforced concrete highway bridge spanning the Turtle Creek Valley in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, carrying a four-lane road between East Pittsburgh and East McKeesport. Work began on May 15, 1930, the structure was completed on December 28, 1931, and it opened on September 10, 1932. Its five double-rib parabolic arches form a total length of 1595 feet, 10 inches, with a main span of 460 feet. The center span was the longest reinforced concrete arch in the country when it was built, and the piers rise as high as 212 feet. Engineering News Record placed the bridge among major engineering achievements of its era, alongside the Holland Tunnel, the Hudson River Suspension Bridge and Hoover Dam. Its height and graceful spans are seen as making it one of the most handsome of Pittsburgh's many bridges. The structure is listed for its engineering and transportation importance.
Significance in brief: At the time of construction the center span was the longest reinforced concrete arch in the country. The nomination argues that its great height, graceful spans and handsome appearance make it one of the most distinctive bridges in Pittsburgh. The Engineering News Record is quoted as placing it among other major engineering achievements of its time.
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 77001120, listed March 28, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | U.S. 30 at Turtle Creek, North Versailles Township, East Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | March 28, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001120 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1930-1932 |
| Architect / builder | Vernon R. Covell, George S. Richardson & A. D. Nutter |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The bridge is state owned and inspected every two years, and plans for its rehabilitation have been approved. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.39383, -79.83741 (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 77001120.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5546180
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.