The Kinzu Bridge, also known in the United States as the Kinzu Viaduct, is a railroad overpass connecting the banks of the river of the same name in McKean County. Before the collapse, it was the fourth-tallest bridge in the United States. In 1982, it was added to the list of historical civil engineering landmarks.
History of creation
Workers built the Kinzu Iron Bridge in just 3 months in 1882, and it became part of the railway line from Bradford to the coal fields. The 92-meter-high Kinzu remained the tallest railway bridge in the world for 2 years. According to the engineers, building a bridge across the valley was less expensive than paving a 13-kilometer path over rough terrain. In 1900, the iron bridge was dismantled to build it out of steel and make the structure more durable. This made it possible to use the overpass for heavy trains. Until 1959, the bridge served commercial purposes. In 1963, the Pennsylvania government bought it out, turning it into the central facility of the state park. In 1977, the Kinza Bridge was added to the U.S. Register of Historic Places.
Short description
The name of the bridge and the river it was built over is Indian. The Iroquois tribe called "kinzua" a fish on a spear. Kinzu has a rich history. In 2002, work began on its reconstruction, but they could not be completed due to a tornado that destroyed most of the structure. Until October 2004, guided tours through the forest continued, stopping at the western entrance to the Kinzu Bridge. After preliminary calculations of the effects of the tornado, the state decided not to rebuild the bridge, given that the project would have cost $45 million.
Before the Kinzu Bridge collapsed, Kinzu Bridge Park attracted over 200,000 visitors each year. After its destruction, it was removed from the US National Register of Historic Places. The railway suspended operations in 2006. The remaining ruins were used as an attraction for visitors. In 2011, the Sky Trail observation deck with a glass floor at the end of the bridge was added to the state park. It offers views of the ruins and the valley. The construction of this pedestrian walkway cost $4.3 million. According to experts, it can generate up to $11.5 million in tourism revenue per year.
How to get
The ruins of the Kinzua Bridge are located in the Kinzua Bridge State Park east of the Allegheny Forest. From Pittsburgh, you can get here by taxi, private or rented car along the PA-28 highway, heading northeast to the city of Mount Jewett, then follow the signs.
The observation deck is open every day from 8.00 to 18.00, but it is allowed to climb the bridge only before dusk. On frosty days, when it's slippery outside, access to the inspection is closed.
Gallery
