Donora-Webster Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Donora-Webster Bridge |
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| Carries | 2 lanes of 10th Street |
| Crosses | Monongahela River |
| Locale | Donora, Pennsylvania, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge |
| Total length | 1,531 feet (467 m) |
| Longest span | 515 feet (157 m) |
| Clearance below | 67 feet (20 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1908 |
| Closed | 2009 (demolished 2015) |
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Webster Donora Bridge
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Webster Donora Bridge in 1982
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | A 143 over Monongahela River, Donora, Pennsylvania |
| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | Wylie, William; Sofias Construction Company |
| Architectural style | Multiple-span through truss |
| MPS | Highway Bridges Owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000813 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1988 |
The Donora-Webster Bridge was a special kind of bridge called a truss bridge. It stretched across the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania. This bridge connected the town of Donora, Pennsylvania with the village of Webster in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
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What Was the Donora-Webster Bridge?
The Donora-Webster Bridge was an important link for many years. It was first built in 1908. The bridge helped people and goods move between two different areas.
Connecting Communities
This bridge connected Route 837 on one side of the river to Route 906 on the other. If the bridge wasn't there, people had to travel many miles. They would have to use other bridges far away, like the Donora-Monessen Bridge or the Monongahela City Bridge.
From Trains to Cars
When the Donora-Webster Bridge first opened in 1908, it was used by trains. But over time, things changed. By 1938, the bridge was updated to carry only cars. It had two lanes for traffic.
Why Did the Bridge Close?
The Donora-Webster Bridge was closed in 2009. It was too old and damaged to be safe for cars anymore. After being closed for several years, the bridge was taken down. It was completely demolished on July 1, 2015.
A Sad Day for Donora
Many local people were sad when the bridge closed. They felt it made things harder for their town, Donora. The town was already facing tough times. A local leader, Peter Daley, tried to get the bridge fixed or replaced. But it didn't happen, and the bridge was taken down.
A Historic Landmark
Even though the bridge is gone, it was once considered very important. The Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation recognized it as a historic bridge. This means it had special value because of its history and design.
