Chestnut Street Bridge

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Chestnut Street Bridge
Carries	Chestnut Street (PA3)
Crosses	Schuylkill River
ID number	670003009022930
Design	Steel continuous, Girder and Floorbeam System
Total length	113.1 metres (371 ft)
Width	13.5 metres (44 ft) (roadway)
Load limit	65.7 metric tons (72.4 S/T)
Clearance below	8.2 metres (27 ft)
AADT	16109 (2006)
Opening date	1957
Coordinates	39°57′11″N 75°10′52″W / 39.95306, -75.18111Coordinates: 39°57′11″N 75°10′52″W / 39.95306, -75.18111

Chestnut Street Bridge is a bridge across the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The orginial 1861 bridge was "a bridge whose scale and use of cast iron made it singular in the United States and throughout the world".^[1] The 1957 bridge, now one way, carries PA Rte. 3 (East) and continues to help connect West Philadelphia with the rest of the city.

Contents 1 History 2 In Film 3 References 4 External links

[edit] History

Construction of the first Chestnut Street Bridge, designed by Strickland Kneass^[2], started on 4 September 1861.^[3][4] That bridge cost $500,000, was 1,528 feet (466 m) long, and was constructed of cast iron, with approaches and piers of granite.^[3] When the bridge formally opened on 23 June 1866^[5], it was the second connetion between Center City Philadelphia and West Philadelphia, after the Market Street Bridge^[2].

In 1957, to make way for the Schuylkill Expressway, the western pier of the bridge was removed, and the main spans of the bridge were replaced.^[1]

[edit] In Film

In the popular film Shooter (2007 film), FBI agent Nick Memphis (Played by Michael Peña) is abducted while walking across the Chestnut street bridge.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Creativity in Cast Iron: Strickland Kneass’s Chestnut Street Bridge. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
2. ^ ^{a b} WEST PHILADELPHIA - "THE GENESIS OF 'THE CITY ACROSS THE RIVER'". Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
3. ^ ^{a b} A Tour of Philadelphia's Waterfront in 1876. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
4. ^ Civil War History in Philadelphia, PA. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
5. ^ Philadelphia Timeline, 1866. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.

[edit] External links

• 1869 photo of the bridge
• 1924 photo of the bridge
• Library of Congress Photos of the original bridge before it was torn down in 1957

Crossings of the Schuylkill River Upstream Market Street Bridge Chestnut Street Bridge Downstream Walnut Street Bridge