Charleroi-Monessen Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John K. Tener Memorial Bridge |
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The John K. Tener Memorial Bridge is a two-lane bridge that crosses the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania. It connects the towns of North Charleroi in Washington County, Pennsylvania and Monessen in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. This important bridge links Route 88 on one side of the river to Route 906 on the other.
The current bridge opened in 2013. It replaced an older bridge built in 1906. The original bridge had to be closed in 2009 because it was no longer safe to use.
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Building the New Bridge
The new John K. Tener Memorial Bridge was planned to open in December 2012. However, there were some construction delays. Because of these delays, the bridge finally opened on June 29, 2013.
Who Was John K. Tener?
The Pennsylvania Legislature decided to name the new bridge after John K. Tener. He was a famous person from the Mon Valley area. John Tener was a former U.S. Representative, which means he was a member of the United States Congress. He also served as the state governor of Pennsylvania.
John Tener was also a professional baseball player before he became a politician. He even helped organize the very first congressional baseball game. Interestingly, he owned a company called the Mercantile Bridge Company. This company was involved in designing the original bridge that connected Charleroi and Monessen.
The Old Bridge: A Look Back
The bridge that stood before the current one was built in 1906. It was a large steel structure with three main sections. This old bridge was taken down on Monday, July 11, 2011. It was removed by implosion, which means it was carefully blown up. The new bridge was then built in the same location.
A Historic Landmark
The 1906 bridge was considered a historic structure. It was officially recognized as a historic bridge by the Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation. This means it was important for its history and engineering.
Images for kids
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The original Charleroi-Monessen Bridge in Summer 1997
