Bridge Cities: The Top 10 North American Cities That Deserve the Nickname
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ม.ค. 2023
- Just because your city has a few bridges, doesn't make it a "bridge city." True Bridge Cities are cities that have -- well, a lot of bridges, but also, they're notable bridges. They're the biggest bridges, or architecturally significant, or multimodal, or just plain weird.
Today's video is an exploration of the idea of a "bridge city": the importance of water to city siting and city building (for all you Cities Skylines players!), and the quasi-paradox that the value bodies of water bring to a city also usually means expensive bridge (or tunnel) projects to connect different parts of the metropolitan region.
Today's video includes visits to nearly all the great urban bridges in North America, including:
- Seattle's Lake Washington floating bridges
- Pittsburgh's bridges across the three rivers
- The Big Four Bridge in Louisville
- The great suspension bridges of New York City, including the Brooklyn, the Manhattan, the George Washington, the Verrazzano-Narrows, the Bronx Whitestone, and the Throgs Neck
- The Jacque Cartier in Montreal
- An unseemly number of Chicago River bridges
- The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge and the Brent Spence Bridge in Cincinnati
- The Golden Gate and the Bay Bridge, of course
- The Lion's Gate in Vancouver
- The Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia
- The Eads Bridge in St. Louis
- The Tilikum Crossing and the Steel Bridge in Portland
- The Sunshine Skyway in Tampa-St. Petersburg
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Previous CityNerd Videos Referenced:
- Busiest Bridges and Tunnels: • Busiest Bridges and Tu...
- Busiest Bike Bridges: • Bikes and Micromobilit...
- City Parks (Including Fairmount Park): • Top 10 City Parks in N...
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Resources:
- baltimore.org/
- www.visitjacksonville.com/
- www.visitkc.com/newmidwest
- www.theurbanist.org/2022/12/0...
- www.toledoblade.com/opinion/e...
- www.cincinnati.com/story/news...
- www.cincinnati.com/story/news...
- www.npr.org/2017/08/01/540669...
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Images
- Ballard Bridge by By Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- University Bridge (Seattle) By SounderBruce - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Montlake Bridge By Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Roebling Bridge at night By EEJCC - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Eads Bridge poster By St. Louis : Pub. by Compton & Co, - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ppmsca.08973. Public Domain, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Eads Bridge lower deck By Baylor98 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
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- Eads Bridge By Mitchell Schultheis - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Tilikum Bridge By Steve Morgan, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Steel Bridge Upper Deck By Steve Morgan, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Amtrak Cascades Crossing the Steel By Steverelei - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Peace Bridge (Calgary) By Ryan Quan - Photograph, taken by myself for the purposes of art., CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Sunshine Skyway By Robert Neff - Flickr: SunshineSkywayBridge-4SC_6643-15, CC BY 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- GW Bridge By Jim Harper, CC BY-SA 2.5, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge By Faisal0926 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Wells Street Bridge (thumbnail) By Daniel Schwen - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Brooklyn Bridge (thumbnail) By Kidfly182 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
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Music:
CityNerd background: Caipirinha in Hawaii by Carmen María and Edu Espinal (TH-cam music library)
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This is the sort of niche content the world needs.
Pittsburghers are ecstatic to make the top of a CityNerd list
Maybe we'll find ways to bridge the divide
There's always gonna be a place for off-the-wall niche content on this channel. Even if the algo has no idea what to do with it haha
@@mitchellnagy6667 you deserve it Pittsburgh is awesome in so many ways.
@@timmmahhhh not too many places you can use your transit card for a funicular
As a Pittsburgh native I’d like to add a couple extra pros to your list:
1) all the bridges downtown have a completely separated ped/bike path which you can use to get to great locations like station square and north shore without having to fear for your life!
2) the thematic unity doesn’t just end at our yellow bridges. We’re also proud to be the only American city where all three of our pro sports are the same colors (black and gold).
3) a tangent to point 2…my Pirates windbreaker lets me rep my city pride in the foreign land of LA while also functioning as a high visibility vest which lets me not get run over while biking into work :-)
That climb on the Fort Pitt Bridge was a doozy unless they've fixed it. I suppose that's what Smithfield Street bridge and Mon Wharf switchback are for!
@Kipp Mayne nope they did not "fix it". Its a good workout
I went to Pitt for grad school -- always loved Pittsburgh! Another cool thing about the three sisters bridges is that they close the Roberto Clemente to traffic on days of Pirates games. It makes for a beautiful walk to the ballpark from downtown.
Caveat to #2 -- Seattle! Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders are all green + blue, though the new Kraken have sorta thrown that off.
Not to throw any shade on Pittsburgh, it's an awesome place I really wanna visit :)
Most of the bridges are falling down.
As a former Pittsburgher, here are a couple fun facts to add to your list!
1. Pittsburgh wins in sheer number of bridges for a small city. According to Wikipedia, it has 446 bridges (more than Venice which has 435!)
2. Its not just the river bridges, but those over the ravines that make Pittsburgh the true bridgiest city!
3. The Hot Metal Bridge is also historically very cool. It used to haul hot steel across the Monongahela from the blast furnaces to where it would be poured. In WWII, about 15% of all steel produced in the US was transported over the Hot Metal Bridge!
Dosent compare to Chicago, hence why you said small cities
@@tortellinifettuccine if “bridges per capita” is a reasonable metric, Pittsburgh wins by a long shot.
@CurlyQue415 That's a really stupid statistic if it exists lmao. But also, let's be honest, those bridges are ugly af, basically just highways. Meanwhile, Chicago has ACTUAL bridges that are literal art, probably older than the entire city of Pittsburgh. Don't get me wrong, I actually really like Pittsburgh. It's cute, but it doesn't compare to Chicago in any metric, especially this one.
@@tortellinifettuccine The entire Chicago river is an architectural work of art... And to be honest I'm not sure Pittsburgh deserved number 1 (NYC probably does in my book)... But the bridges in Pittsburgh are definitely not 'ugly af'. Also both cities are very old by American standards, and Pittsburgh is probably a bit older
I love it
It’s also worth mentioning the great views from many of Pittsburgh’s bridges. The way the skyline hits you coming out of the Fort Pitt Bridge is iconic, and it’s not alone. As someone who rides across at least a couple different bridges every day, it doesn’t get old. I also appreciate how every bridge has at least one separate walking and biking path
That's why I've heard. But emerging out of the Ft Pitt tunnel at 55 mph to a choice of 6 possible ramps off the bridge and only seconds to do it safely while being mindful of the other drivers on the bridge and the drivers coming on the bridge from 837, I've never had a chance to admire it.
It scared the crap out of me the first time I drove over it. I've grown to appreciate after awhile though
Yeah, I'd hoped to find a way to convey that, because the relationship of the bridges to the city's skyline is really the most impressive thing.
@@barneyh5314 The trick is to be the passenger so you can just stare at the skyline while the driver panics :)
If you want to see it without having to drive it, there's a YT channel called "Pittsburgh Dad," where you oughta check out a video called "DAD FLIPS OUT IN TRAFFIC."
Pittsburgh's bridges are also awesome because you'll be driving through a tunnel in the mountains and then, bam, you're on a massive yellow steel bridge and you can see the entire Pittsburgh skyline. One of my favorite places to visit as a kid.
So true.
Pittsburgh is the only city that has a front door. You come out of the Fort Pitt tunnels onto the Fort Pitt Bridge and the city greets you.
Yup! They say that Pittsburgh is the only city with an "entrance." That view when you emerge from the Fort Pitt Tunnel is breathtaking!
Glad that Pittsburgh took the crown from NYC. Kept it unpredictable and fun! As a New Yorker, I do appreciate it when some of the thunder is stolen away from this city. Though if you ever travel to NYC, I would definitely recommend that you take a cheap ferry ride up the East River from the downtown Manhattan ferry station all the way to the 34th Street ferry station. It's only about $3. Damn. For such a tiny sum, you will be privy to one of the most breathtaking vistas in the world, with these awesome, historic bridges spanning the East River with the backdrop of a sea of skyscrapers on both the Manhattan and Brooklyn sides. Take advantage of that! You won't regret it.
I've taken the East River ferry a couple times, but only for short hops across, not a bridge tour! I'll have to try it.
Just did this today! It was great.
That ferry ride is for sure one of the hidden gems of NYC.
No, you don't let any city take the thunder from New York, much less puny pittsburgh!
To get the longer bridge tour via the East River and an unparalleled view of Manhattan, I'd suggest starting at the E 90th street stop on the Soundview line, head to Wall Street, transfer for free to the Rockaway line, then it's a short walk on the A train to get back to Manhattan -- all for $5.50.
You could get two more bridges if you went to the Soundview stop in the Bronx but it's harder to get to via public transit.
5:32 "I think the concept here is to solve traffic by adding more freeway lanes. It's really outside the box thinking."
Now that is some bone-dry sarcasm right there. Well done.
I feel like Chicago should earn some bonus points for the bridges giving continuity to miles of the city grid, connecting the loop to river north and west loop on every single block. They’re so well integrated into the urban fabric of downtown that you don’t even need to go over to the place where the bridge crosses the River - it’s just the next block over.
And bonus bonus points for all the downtown bridges movable double bascule bridges.
Yes, and bonus, bonus, bonus points for all of the beautiful railroad bridges, particularly in the southern/eastern part of the city.
@@davidw5266 especially since bridges create chokepoints for traffic
Also, can't forget about all the moveable bridges that cross the Caumet river system.
@@tonywalters7298 At least you won't be replacing your historic iron bridges every 10 years when the concrete scours like the modern low quality concrete slabs built now. Inevitably causing taxpayer money every time it needs a replacement.
I also consider the Sunshine Skyway bridge a trash cut & paste cable stayed bridge.
Chicago should also get points for being the place where the double bascule bridge, that is so common across the Chicago River, was invented and refined.
Love this! As a former Pittsburgher this rings very true. But, the thing that I think separates Pittsburgh are the bridges built around/over the topography. The rivers are one thing, but the myriad of bridges going over hollows really makes Pittsburgh the Bridge-iest. Great Video and interesting topic!
He missed McArdle Roadway. McArdle is one long bridge from the top of Mt Washington to the Liberty Bridge. Since it goes up along Mt Washington most people think it is a cut into the hillside. It is NOT cut into the hillside but one long bridge whose piers are deep into that hillside.
I'd love to see a top ten "River Cities." So many cities have the nickname, but there must be some metric for measuring which city best integrates it's river into the life of the city.
You're asking for Trouble, with a capital "T".
That’s true. The “Entertainment Capital of the world” is also overused. La and Vegas both say it.
There is already a winner with The Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. Or The Mon, Al and O. Then there are many hundreds of uncountable streams and creeks. I am 100 for from a bridge. My home is between 2 major bridges a mile to each side. My neighborhood has 5 major bridges. You can't go much more than a mile before a bridge. Oh and I live less then 1,000 ft from on the those 3 rivers. Oh then there are bridge over hollow, ravine and highways.
I do think we (Portland) might have a better shot at Riveriest city. But then again, how can you beat Pittsburgh-it literally turns two rivers into another super-river?!
Although Milwaukee didn't make your list, I recommend you read up on the obscure history that was the "Milwaukee Bridge War". It's the reason why many of the city's bridges cross the river at strange angles.
I grew up in the Milwaukee area and had never known about this. Makes sense though
Googled it, wasn't disappointed
You're telling me Kilbourne was that much of a jerk, and they still named a street after him? Talk about failing upwards.
I'm glad someone mentioned this! Also the Hoan bridge is dope - named for one of Milwaukee's socialist mayors! I wouldn't argue Milwaukee is a bridge city so honorable mention feels right
The City of Pittsburgh has actually trademarked the color of gold- Aztec Gold-used on the bridges!
And the Hot Metal Bridge is so named because it once connected the blast furnaces and processing/rolling plant of the former J&L Steel Plant located on both sides of the Monongahela River. The bridge remained after the steel mill closed, and now connects two brownfield revitalization projects (Southside Works (where the Cheesecake Factory is) and Hazelwood Green) for bikers, walkers, and cars. A really cool story of urban renewal and growth!
It has to be a PPG Paints™color, right?
While I admit that NYC's bridges are iconic, as a Philly native and visitor to Pittsburgh, I'm thrilled that Philly was 4th and that Pittsburgh topped the list. I love the variety in the Philly bridges (suspension, draw-bridges, truss, cantilever, pretty much everything except cable stay), and I appreciate the uniform color scheme and majesty of many of Pittsburgh's bridges in the 3 rivers area.
According to this video, Pennsylvania surely deserves the title of the Bridge State!
I know the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge has a draw span. Are there other drawbridges in Philly?
@@davidneman6527 I believe the Burlington-Bristol Bridge is drawbridge as well. The Burlington Bristol is a vertical lift while the Tacony-Palmyra opens more like vertical french doors (bascule bridge). There is also the freight rail-only Delair bridge that has a vertical lift section similar to the Burlington-Bristol.
@@missybarbour6885 I second that
That's right...thanks.
I moved to Pittsburgh in 2014 and I love this city. I was certain Pittsburgh would be #1. My favorite bridge is the Smithfield Street Bridge, which crosses the Mon to connect Mt. Washington with downtown. It is a lenticular steel truss bridge that was opened in 1883 and it is beautiful. But I think the most iconic bridges in the city are the Three Sisters, suspension bridges built across the Allegheny in the 1920s--the Roberto Clemente/Sixth Street Bridge, the Andy Warhol/Seventh Street Bridge, and the Rachel Carson/Ninth Street Bridge--connecting downtown with the North Side. If you are ever in Pittsburgh, take the Gateway Clipper tour for a magnificent view and to learn the history of Pittsburgh's historic bridges.
I plug the Gateway Clipper in my NFL Stadium video!
Until the mid 1980's, the Smithfield St bridge had 4 lanes of traffic. Two were streetcar only, and two for motor traffic.
Nearly 30 years ago. I used to live on Mt. Washington and would take the incline down the hill and walk across the Smithfield Street bridge to my job at PPG. Your comment (and this video) brings back memories of the best commute I ever had.
Also my favorite. When I lived there on the Southside Slopes I skated to work or took the Carrick across that bridge everyday. Always admired it.
It's Mahnt Worshington as a lived part of my life there.
Don't forget about that guy in Chicago who lived under a bridge in downtown Chicago for a couple years. He was able to tap into an electrical outlet, and he had it set up pretty nice. He learned how to brace himself when the bridge was raised. He had a tv, radio, even a video game system.
Chicago really doesn't seem like a bridgy city but all of the bridges you mentioned are surrounded by the stunning buildings in the area that the bridges really seem like a side piece. I rarely think about how I cross a bridge taking the El every day! It's quite the view and highly recommend it for any fellow city nerd.
I've been on the architecture and lake boat tour that goes down the river first and then out into Lake Michigan. It was really neat.
Agree, I would have put Philly head of Chicago. The majestic Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman bridges over the very wide Delaware River dominate the city, in a way they don't in Chicago. They are bringing you into the city from another state, where the Chicago bridges, seem like an afterthought. The Schuylkill River, which is still wider than Chicago River, has several architecture masterpieces. Rivers are known for their bridges, Philly is a river city, and Chicago is a lake city.
I agree, the bridges here in Chicago you never even notice your on, to many skyscrapers around them that you don’t pay attention to them.
He should have shown video of all the bridges in Chicago when they are up to let boat traffic through.
Yeah, I really had to think hard about how to judge Chicago for this list. The scale of the bridges is tiny compared to what surrounds them, but -- they're so cool, almost like a necklace of interesting/historic infrastructure around the downtown.
The Three Sisters Bridges in Pittsburgh are really interesting, especially from "The Steel City". These are self supporting eye-bar suspension bridges. What appears to be the cables are actually stacks of steel plates meshed at the pins holding vertical rods, no cables involved, just plate steel. And of course they connect the downtown to the north shore which is home to 2 of the 3 local Pro teams sporting the same yellow and black color scheme.
At the start I thought to myself, "Pittsburg should win this, but probably won't...because its Pittsburg." Really happy to see it got the respect it deserved, such a beautiful city.
Given the number of yinzers already commenting on this video, I'm surprised this hasn't already been mentioned: you forgot the 'h' in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburg, CA has great bridges
I think most Yinzers like myself (an expat) are already aware that it wasn’t always “Pittsburgh” with an “h”. I had to look this up, but It wasn’t really “official” until 1911, and was a point of contention for decades prior to this between the City and the Federal Government.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_Pittsburgh?wprov=sfti1
Given that my AutoComplete always spells it with an “h”, I wonder if this creates difficulties for people from other “Pittsburg”s, who constantly have to backspace over the trailing “h” that they don’t get to enjoy.
One of the reasons Chicago is not usually thought of as a bridge city is because there are no long, ornate suspension bridges. And that's because the Chicago river is so narrow compared to most of the other rivers in this video. Some of the bridges in residential neighborhoods on the north and south sides don't even register as bridges until you notice the railings next to the sidewalk. Otherwise they just seem like a regular section of the street.
They need to make the Skyway a suspension bridge. That would be something.
although it is not in the city of Chicago, the Chicago Skyway is iconic. Surprised he did not mention it.
My dad grew up outside of Pittsburgh and moved to Chicago. He once told, me, jokingly, that the Chicago River should be considered a creek.
I feel like for Seattle, you missed the opportunity to roast the West Seattle bridge issues and the historical/original Tacoma Narrows bridge. Great video! Glad to see Seattle earn a well-deserved spot.
He he "What up West Seattle". I think I still have the Tshirt.
Also all of the bridges in the south of the city over the Duwamish. Then you have all the bridges over the ravines like up to Beacon Hill or 15th Ave next to Cowan Park. The Puget sound metroplex is held together by bridges and ferries.
The begining of boating be season or when the thunder boats run, traffic just sucks.
As a Pittsburgher there’s nothing better for me than going to a game whether it’s Steelers Pirates or Penguins and walking across one of the bridges to get to a game with a bunch of other yinzers.
My first choice would be Pittsburgh. They have numerous great looking bridges. I think Pittsburgh is generally an underrated city. I live in NYC, really enjoy the vibe Pittsburgh. It punches above its weight in almost every category.
Honestly, the first thing that came to my mind when I read the title was Charleston, WV. They may not be packed to gather, but every time I pass through the region I admire all the cool historic bridges along the Kanawha River.
Came to say this. Probably also holds the record for the most times you can cross the same river on one highway.
Here in Poland the "Bridge city" or "Miasto mostów" is definitely Wrocław. There's no other city in this country that has so many different beautiful bridges.
I've been there and you're right. It's a beautiful city all the way around.
Oh I coulda used that instead of Budapest, dang.
Go Poland.
Pittsburgh is, as always, great, but I'm surprised that you didn't mention the Panhandle Bridge which carries every line of the light rail
Not accurate, as far as interurban streetcars. The Panhandle Bridge was a strictly heavy railroad bridge that was repurposed in the 1980's as a connection to the new Downtown Subway.
Before that was completed, South Hills bound street cars went across the Smithfield Bridge and straight through the Street Car Tunnel. The downstream lanes of the Smithfield bridge were for cars, buses, trucks, the upstream for street cars.
@@barneyh5314 my mistake, removed that part of my comment
Recently moved to Pittsburgh after living in New York and San Francisco most of my life. Have to agree with you on this. While the more iconic bridges have their charm, Pittsburgh's bridges are humble but hardworking and friendly. The same might be said of its people, perhaps.
Humility does not apply when it comes to its sports team…
When I saw you're video my first pick was Pittsburgh. In addition to the stuff you mention when you drive into the city from the south you go through tunnels and you emerge onto a bridge and suddenly get a great view of downtown Pittsburgh. Another cool thing is you can go up one of the inclines for a great view of downtown from the mountain.
Pittsburgh makes me think of a possible topic: most interesting and unique transit/bike/ped infrastructure in North America. Funiculars? Bike escalators? Beautiful and odd bridges? Artistic yet practical designs? There’s some cool stuff out there!
Pittsburgh also has "city steps", outdoor steps that go up a hillside and connect hilltop neighborhoods with the roads below.
@@lennysmomcity steps the thing I loved as a child but dread as I get older....
Great content! I’d love to see a video about cities/metro areas that used to have great public transportation in the past but currently have a very poor or non existing one. Special mention should go to Cincinnati and their subway system.
I’ve always wanted to explore the tunnels that were supposed to be the subway in Cincinnati.
I feel like this could be any city that once had streetcars, so maybe we can narrow the scope a bit. Maybe Big, Medium, and/or Small cities?
I think most cities had great public transportation in the past, but very few of them have now. Of the cities I'm familiar with my top two would be Pittsburgh and Kansas City. Have never been to Cincinnati, but it should be on such a list because they have yet to utilize their partially built subway or extend its light rail line to a more heavily trafficked area like the University of Cincinnati and nearby hospitals.
@@ThePronkMVP524 Explore the Cincinnati subway with the Proper People: th-cam.com/video/nY6A0_uxyvs/w-d-xo.html
Cincinnati's subway was never operational, but Rochester, NY had a small but working subway that was abandoned.
In Minneapolis It's worth noting that out of 17 bridges 15 have separated bike ped infrastructure.
The 10th ave bridge was just renovated removing 2 car lanes in order to expand the sidewalks and add a separated 2 way bikeway. The Third ave bridge is also being updated and will include 13 foot multi use paths on both sides, separated from traffic by concrete barriers. Finally there is active planning to convert two more lightly used rail bridges for ped/bike access!
I live right by the 10th ave bridge, and bike across it to work every day. I love the new protected lanes, except for in the winter when cars inevitably get confused and use it.
This on top of the variety of bridges, from the stone arch to Hennepin Ave to Washington Ave to the high bridges on the south side. Plus all the old side street bridges over the greenway, which I know isn’t a waterway. Speaking of waterways, Minneapolis is on the Mississippi, the most important waterway on the continent. I feel like if St. Louis gets to be on here then you have to put Minneapolis
I knew Pittsburgh was gonna be #1 before I even clicked on this video -- simply iconic. That view from the Pirates baseball stadium is maybe the best view from any stadium in the USA.
Pittsburgh has half the bridges as NYC, but its metro population is also a tenth the size, so definitely incredible. Generally speaking, Pittsburgh is a great city to explore if you are also in love with infrastructure.
NYC: 789 bridges
2.63 bridges/sq. mi.
1 bridge per 11,160 people
PGH: 446 bridges
8.05 bridges/sq. mi.
1 bridge per 680 people
You forgot a very small and very significant bridge in Philadelphia. The Pennypack/Frankford Ave Bridge. It's not much to look at, it's not very long, and it does not cross a significant body of water, but it is THE oldest bridge in the USA. Built in 1697 and still carrying traffic to this day.
Yes it’s about time that Pittsburgh got it’s due recognition on this channel! I was so worried that you’d skip over it because it doesn’t have subways near its colleges or something arbitrary like last time. Good job
I think now that you have done a video on the bridgiest cities, you should do a top 10 on the sister piece of architecture: tunnels. I think a top 10 tunneliest city list could be really interesting
A good opportunity to give Vegas a dishonorable mention.
For tunnels the top two are probably New York and Pittsburgh again.
@CowWithBeef Norfolk VA wins hands down for tunnels. We got the downtown tunnel, the midtown tunnel, the 564 runway tunnel, and the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. Also, within the metro area are the Moniter Merrimack Bridge Tunnel, and the famous 17.5 mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel with two tunnels connecting 3 spans.
Probably won’t make the top 10 list because Detroit isn’t known for tunnels. But the one we do have is the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel that connects Downtown Detroit with Windsor Ontario. It runs UNDER the Detroit River. It is also only one of two conveyances that run South from the US to Canada; the other being the nearby Ambassador Bridge. (The under-construction Gordie Howe International Bridge will run east-west.)
Woot Cincinnati makes another list lol. The Brent Spence bridge project is to make a companion bridge so there will be a "local" and "express" bridge. It is very expensive and does not solve the issue of having multiple 5 lane interstates going through the downtown... But we are a suburban metro area so it has huge support from people who do not live in the city, meanwhile they constantly vote against metro/public transport expansion as the county expands well outside the city... I live 2 miles from the river in uptown and who pretty much have to walk to get anywhere.
Pretty maddening. I wonder if there's an origin-destination study that shows who the bridge users are? It's always an interesting question -- who is really benefiting?
@@CityNerd I could be wrong, but from my understanding, the majority of bridge users are people coming to and from the airport (CVG)
@@CityNerd I believe the biggest reason they want to expand it is mainly due to the raw amount of goods that go over it. An article reported that "Roughly $700 Billion of products go across the current bridge a year, 3% of America's GDP" so that is likely a much larger factor in the decision versus solving the problems locals (like me) have with it
Yeah, the BSB is more about alleviating freight traffic that gets overwhelmed by the local traffic during peak hours. 1/3 of the metro population is in KY, so rush hours slam the bridges and it doesn't help that 71 & 75 converge over this same bridge.
CVG airport is a huge Amazon & DHL hub so industrial warehouses & trucks taking things regionally, plus a lot of N/S traffic from Canada headed south on 75. That combo is mainly pushing for the widening/2nd bridge with little concern for local needs.
We've made some progress on transit lately - streetcar, fixing local transit funding structure, and about to start first BRT lines - but not much uses the bridges well yet.
Woohoo not woot
I love that term "car sewer".
My bus route to work in Portland crosses the Steel Bridge and that view never gets old. Heading back home eastward, you even get a view of Hood on nicer days. The St. Johns Bridge is definitely beautiful, but one quirky thing I like about it is that the west side of it ends in a T-intersection. Feels a bit unusual for a fairly major bridge.
Glad you put Pittsburgh at the top of the list. The city clearly is defined by the rivers and the need to bridge them. There is also a wonderful dramatic element when arriving from the south. Coming through the Fort Pitt tunnel under Mount Washington you've entered it with no notion you are so close to an urban center, there is a lot of development, but no tall buildings.Pass through the tunnel and exit and suddenly there is the urban core of the area RIGHT THERE! Your entire visual field is tall buildings, steel bridge, and decisions. You are without a moment to breath on the Fort Pitt Bridge. Decide quickly what you are doing because it is happening NOW. I'll never forget that moment several decades ago when I first visited Pittsburgh.
Even coming from the east is a dramatic entrance, a bit less so than the south though
The only city with an entrance.
@@crismcdonough2804 That’s a good way to put it. No matter which direction you’re coming from, you’ll reach a point where the skyline just hits you
It cannot be understated how quick you need to react on the Fort Pitt bridge! You got about 2 and a half seconds to cut across 3 lanes or else your planned trip to the North Shore is taking a detour through Oakland
My favorite bridge is the “Y” bridge in Zanesville, OH. Look it up if you’ve never heard about it.
Sort of like the Triborough Bridge in NYC.
or how about the bridge in wheeling WV
One interesting bridge that's similar to the steel bridge in Portland is the Houghton-Hancock lift bridge. It's double level as well, but the levels switch between summer and winter. In the summer, the upper level isn't used but the lower level has traffic and walkways. In the winter, the lower level is used for exclusively snowmobiles. It also used to run an interurban line, but that of course closed in the 30s
Oh good one, I wasn't familiar with that bridge!
@@CityNerd Another fun fact about it is that it's the heaviest double-decked lift bridge in the world.
The good ol Yoop
I expected and agree with your #1.
I thought you might throw a nod to Minneapolis's Stone Arch Bridge, a fantastic historic former RR bridge now used for bikes/peds to cross the Mississippi River.
I have lived in Portland and Louisville, I'm glad Louisville made it to the list! Big Four is one of my very favorite bridges!
This channel is saving my existence these days. This is the perfect kind of content for me. I have always wondered about this exact thing and it just gets so muddled when I try to start looking into it.
Awesome video!
As a Cincinnati native, I can assure you that the Brent Spence Bridge will continue to be a gigantic cluster for decades to come.
Thanks for including us on your list ❤ Considering one of our monikers is the Gateway to the West because so many people crossed the Mississippi or headed up the Missouri from here, we certainly do have a lot of bridges. :]
Also, in case anyone is wondering the white structure you can see in the Mississippi by the Chain of Rocks Bridge is a historic water intake tower from 1894. There is another even more beautiful one right next to it from 1915 as well. While people used to live in them, unfortunately the public cannot currently visit them, hopefully we can open it up to tourist someday soon though! :]
They are very pretty, but I make the mistake of crossing into E STL at 3am by myself though, not having a GPS 😨
Vancouver has a few bridges that check the "scale" box if you pan out from the CoV. The Port Mann and Ironworkers Memorial Bridges carry the Trans-Canada highway, the Alex Fraser Bridge connects Delta and Richmond, and eventually there will be a huge replacement bridge for the George Massey Tunnel between Delta and Richmond.
Also, the Patullo Bridge between Surrey and New Westminster is an oldie but a goodie that is being replaced and the Skybridge carrying the... Skytrain... is a dainty rail crossing,
I also noticed he only looked downtown for Vancouver, but seemed to pan out wider for other cities in the list. Vancouver is no slouch when it comes to bridges. North Arm bridge which is the SkyTrain only bridge from the airport is also pretty cool.
I was also surprised that Vancouver didn't make the top ten.
Totally agree, Vancouver got snubbed. The only possible reason is because Vancouver doesn't really have transit on bridges.
@@dli-mx I suspect it's because alot of our bridges are outside of Vancouver proper. In other cities technically
As a Pittsburgher, I was pleased to see Pittsburgh ranked number one on your list. Three points to add: 1) Even with the great number of bridges in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities, the one bridge type not found here is a movable bridge (plenty of movable bridges can be found in Chicago and Milwaukee). 2) There are some very beautiful bridges outside of the city. My favorite is the George Westinghouse Memorial Bridge, a beautiful concrete arch bridge linking East Pittsburgh with North Versailles. 3) There are some very notable active railroad bridges in Pittsburgh such as the Fort Wayne Bridge over the Allegheny River. Another railroad bridge is a stone arch bridge (on the Brilliant Branch railroad line) which crosses over another stone arch bridge in one of Pittsburgh's eastern neighborhoods.
The county actually recently purchased that part of the Brilliant Branch railroad with the bridges that run through Homewood and Lincoln Lemington. They’re converting it into walkable trails. I’ve always admired those bridges, and it will be great to walk along them once they’re open as trails in a few years. I imagine the views are great. They’re also purchasing a rail bridge that goes across the river into the suburb of Aspinwall, and they’ll all be linked up in the same trail.
Pittsburgh was the city that immedietly came to mind for me. Very underrated city, probably the prettiest city I have visited. The bridges really are beautiful there.
Just wanted to mention that for Montreal, the Estacade, which is an icebreaker bridge made to protect the old champain bridge, is entirely for pedestrian and cyclists (and filming a fast and furious scene that one time). The old champlain bridge was cars only though hence the need for a separate bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. The old bridge was dismantled in parts over a bit more than a year as a real-life laboratory to understand why the bridge structure didn't not last nearly as long as expected.
Also, in 2011, when the debate about the bridge being a safe structure or not was raging and how quickly it should be replaced, the Catholic Church of Montreal put up billboards near the entrance of the bridge telling people to do their prayers [before getting on the bridge that was in risk of partial collapse according to Transport Canada].
I love that Montreal was included! The old and crumbling Champlain bridge was heavily reinforced while its successor was built alongside and then was carefully taken apart and removed. For a while both bridges were entire and side by side. Apparently the failure of the original bridge (opened in 1962, so not particularly old) was due to not considering the corrosive effect of de-icing salt on its concrete. How did the designers not consider the winters here! And that billboard was hilarious!
I agree that the George Washington Bridge is an icon. As you cross it the view looking south towards Midtown and Lower Manhattan is absolutely amazing.
@@ozgirl45 I think the concrete being vulnerable was due to it being rushed along with the old Turcot Interchange, which was also crippled with vulnerable concrete that was falling apart, for Expo 67.
Winnipeg has over 40 road, rail, bike and foot bridges on the Red, Assiniboine and Seine Rivers.
I guessed the top two, but didn't guess Chicago. I've never been to Chicago, and would really like to. It definitely seems to be such an underrated place. Hopefully next time I go to the US I can make it happen!
Would love to see a video comparing transit pass systems (ie. Clipper Card)
Is there that many differences between them?
This comment section is great. As a Pittsburgh enthusiast, it's nice to see Pittsburghers excitedly sharing info about Pittsburgh
This is my new favorite video from your channel. I’ve been working in bridge design for nearly a year and look forward to many more.
The 4th Street Bridge that carries Kentucky Route 8 between Covington and Newport across the Licking River immediately south of Cincinnati is, like the Brent Spence, also planned for replacement. The Kentucky Department of Transportation proposed some options, but the architecture firm I work for ended up proposing options that would include far more transit, bike, and pedestrian facilities, as well as a more iconic design, capitalizing on the major redevelopment projects proposed and underway within a half mile of the bridge. Hopefully, this will result in a better bridge. There also has been a major push to turn one lane of the Girl Scouts Bridge that also crosses the Licking River a bit further upstream into a protected bike lane, with major community support, after a cyclist was killed in a hit-and-run on the bridge in August 2022.
The Cincinnati area also has some large and significant viaducts, the largest being the Western Hills Viaduct that crosses the railyard and Mill Creek on the city's near west side. And on the subject of river crossings, there even is still an operating ferry across the river on the west side, Anderson Ferry, that provides the most direct route between the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport and the city's western suburbs and westernmost neighborhoods. One thing that I find defining about the city is that almost all the river bridges are downtown, only two cross the river outside of downtown, and one of those crosses from Kentucky into Indiana west of the city on the I-275 beltway. I feel the area would benefit from a more decentralized bridge network that would allow more flexibility for car traffic and transit, including a fixed link between the western suburbs and the airport that could carry rapid transit, but the topography of the area makes this difficult to achieve in a cost-effective manner.
I would say Chicago is known for its bridges, a view of the Chicago River with all of its bridges is just as recognizable as the skyline of the city
I actually guessed the #1 answer correctly before watching the video for a change! I know this channel doesn't love freeways, but one of the most incredible approaches to any city in the world is coming into Pittsburgh from the south on I-279. After going through a tunnel, out of nowhere, Pittsburgh appears before you. It's hard to describe how wonderful it is without driving it.
Is that the Liberty Tunnel?
@@bodine57 Ft. Pitt Tunnel.
@@bodine57 The Liberty Tunnel is actually a lot more magical. It was featured in "The Song Remains the Same" and after the boys emerge from the tunnel with that view of the city, they are magically in midtown Manhattan.
@@barneyh5314 Thanks. I get to Pittsburgh a couple of times a year; I'll have to take a detour south next time and check it out!
I figured #1 would be Pittsburgh; anyone who's been is probably struck by the number and quality of the bridges. Love that city.
Kinda feel like Cleveland could have made this list due to the volume, variety, historical importance, & unique styles they have. Draw bridges, rotating bridges, rapid line bridges, old manufacturing bridges, guardians of traffic, bridges that are under/over another bridge. They do need to work on making them more pedestrian friendly though. So much potential in that city in general, bright future ahead.
Nice to see Calgary get a positive mention - As the Canadian poster child for urban sprawl, we doesn't get a lot of love from urbanists. Also fun to see the Peace Bridge mentioned: Before it was built so many people had an irrational hatred for it. Now it's one of the most popular photography spots in the city. Also very well used.
Yup! And it's a Santiago Calatrava, too.
the lethbridge viaduct (hlb) has to be the most iconic railway bridge in North America.
One thing that separates Chicago from the rest of the cities on this list is how many people actually walk on the bridges in the city (not just downtown either). For the other cities, if you walk across the bridges, it would be more for recreational purposes or sightseeing. In Chicago, you casually walk across the bridges to get from one point of interest to another.
Hello! As a Cincinnati native I wanted to give some insights, thanks for featuring my home city! The Brent Spence is a very dangerous bridge with horrible merges heading into it on top of no emergency lanes on the side both ways. A few years ago they closed it to do touch up work and a new paint job, but many still dread having to use it daily. It is at its intended capacity and aging which is worrying since it serves not only the Cincy metro, but two major highways of I75 and I71 as well since they merge in Kentucky and split again shortly after in Cincy. To us it has been teased for decades that we would get an upgrade, but until this year not much concrete work or commitment seemed to have been done by our governments. Many of us are happy to see an upgrade in the works due to safety reasons more so than possibility of reducing traffic.
Also, we all love the Roebling bridge as much as you do! It is a city icon at this point. I hope they make it a pedestrian only bridge in the future to better preserve it personally.
And keep heavy truck traffic off it when the Brent Spence is closed because of a wreck or a fire or… or… or…
Happy to see PDX on the list, and to see BOS and YVR get honourable mentions! Great video, as always!
I'm glad we won on your list. We here in Pittsburgh have gotten some negative bridge related press recently so thanks for not mentioning that, but we have tons of great bridges that haven't fallen down recently too!
fern hollow...
The one that fell down was small...
@@jessamineprice5803 Small, but an important connector. A FINE example of what lack of maintenance can accomplish.
@@jessamineprice5803 it also fell down on the same day the president was visiting to talk about infrastructure. Also also, it’s on one of the most important streets in Pittsburgh connecting lots of the neighborhoods together. So while small, it collapsing was pretty important.
In the NYC area, if you want "old industrial design" you should look at a lot of the steel rail bridges around Jersey City and Newark too.
Add in the stretch of the turnpike from Exit 11 to about Exit 15. Lots of cool bridges, The Polanski Skyway, The Goethals Bridge, The OuterBridge Crossing, The Bayonne Bridge etc
This was Jacksonville's chance to shine, but alas...
I think Hampton Roads, VA, deserved a shoutout too. The three bridge-tunnels might not be visually impressive but they're really unique.
I also think DC could've made it if you included the many beautiful bridges over Rock Creek.
I would agree about Jacksonville, the iconic pic of the skyline contains the Main Street Bridge.
A lot of river cities tend to have a substantial majority of their or their metro area's population on one side, but Jax has both the city's and the metro area's population split almost perfectly in half by the river. The CBD straddled it awkwardly, and the Skway-to-nowhere even had to cross it to feel Jacksonville enough. If you have a debilitating fear of bridges, Jax will truly feel half its size. (Cue the debate about which side you'd rather be cut off from. (Both. The answer is both.))
Pittsburgh! I guessed it! Great choice. My honorable mention list would also include Washington, DC, with it's distinctive classical revival bridges: Memorial Bridge and Key Bridge, plus if you really want to get into the weeds, Taft Bridge and Duke Ellington Bridge. My great-grandfather was involved in the construction of Memorial Bridge during the Depression and was so proud of it, he got personalized bookplates with an image of the bridge. All these bridges were constructed before air-conditioning, when DC was a relatively small backwater town, but they now carry significant amounts of urban traffic. Key Bridge is a beautiful walk too.
My absolute surprise when Louisville made this list! I definitely agree that our bridges are mostly “car sewers,” especially after they built the Lincoln bridge and expanded Spaghetti Junction. I do love the walking bridge though. It’s always fun to cross and get ice cream in Indiana. I remember when I was little and we would drive on I-64 thinking that it was so weird that this random train bridge ended in the sky lol. I hope that someday the other train bridges can be used for public transit once again!
To be honest, I never really liked the Peace Bridge in Calgary that much, but I also have a preference for the more "classic" design bridges. So I guess for me, Peace was never an option, lol.
And as an Edmontonian, I'm bound by duty to say that Edmonton also has some nice bridges: the Tawatina, which is exclusively for LRT and ped/bike and the Walterdale are both modern, beautiful bridges, and the city is planning for a huge inland cable-stayed LRT bridge to cross a rail yard. There's also many ped bridges (including some converted old wooden rail bridges hidden in Mill Creek). The High Level is my favourite though: historically carrying foot, vehicle, streetcar, and train, though nowadays the streetcar is just a tourist-type service and Canadian Pacific ended rail service over it in the 80s. More recently their was talk of running an LRT line on it, but it hasn't been maintained for that kind of weight unfortunately.
18 Bridges isn't just an uppity vanity magazine about Edmonton... It's a reality... I think we've hit 21+ now...
Blame the provincial government for letting the High Level rust away to the point where it can't carry light rail trains. At some points it is down to 25% of its original structural strength.
I really enjoy how Denver is always given dishonorable mentions. They are always fair assessments.
There are times the Platte doesn't even have water flow. It gets gross.
I think the important thing to think about with this ranking is to think about which city is so tied to its identity as a city where you cross bridges. In Seattle, for instance, everyone’s interaction with the city is based on which bridge you were going to cross. It’s a very north-south focused city due to it being an isthmus and all travel north-south needs to funnel through a select number of bridges that everyone crosses while traversing the city. I think Pittsburgh is one of the cities where are the unique and amazing geography and its bridges are so ingrained in your picture of the city that you can’t not think about Pittsburgh’s bridges.
Hello from Montreal, thanks for mentioning my city. Actually the new Samuel de Champlain bridge that you picked has quite an extensive bike path , just as many cyclists are using it as cars. If you drove up from Vermont or New York you would take that bridge. The bridge was rebuilt and the city wanted to name it after a famous hockey player Maurice “the Rockert” Richard but the family didn’t agree. Another bridge just adjacent to the Champlain is an ice bridge, a bit of a weird concept but it was built to break up ice formation in winter. It wasn’t open or used for car use but ten years ago it became a bike accessible to bike south between the seaway and the st.Laurence river. A really beautiful route between some of the seaways locks. Regarding cycling the province of Quebec has over 4300 km of bike paths. Enough already take care
Glad to see Chicago in the top 3. It's always interesting (but annoying to motorists) at the beginning and end of boating season when the bridges raise one by one as the masted sailboats make their way to/from the lake. BTW, we pronounce DuSable as "doo-SAH-bul" and Calumet as "CAL-you-met."
As someone who grew up in Pittsburgh, I would've been shocked if it wasn't number 1. The story isn't just about the river crossings either: Pittsburgh is extremely hilly, such that they needed a great many bridges over places that have no water in order to traverse them safely. A classic example are the bridges near Carnegie Mellon University, in which the ravine is so steep that bridges were necessary to get around even though there is no water underneath them.
This has to be the most effective cheesecake factory mention on one of your videos to date. I truly didn't see it coming
As a Chicagoan who LOVE our bridges and the iconic bridge-houses, I gotta say Pittsburgh really is defined by its bright yellow bridges. A worthy No.1! One of my favorite cities.
Also if you're ever in Chicago, make sure to ride the Brown Line crossing the river on the Wells St Bridge. You get a prime view of the river and the flanking skyline. The bridge also ends at Merchandize Mart, an icon itself.
Nice footage of cities in this episode. (Looking at you, Rochester! 😍) As a Pittsburgher myself, I feel validated.
We’ve invested a lot in rails-to-trails in this area, and I have mixed feelings about it. It seems like the majority of people use them more for recreation than for commuting. (It’s nice that people are being active, but it would also be nice if there were fewer cars on the road.) I’m curious if that’s the case everywhere.
Love your channel!
In Rochester, we have the historic Erie Canal which gives us the canal trail of the same name. There are numerous rail trails running from the Erie Canal trail. Some are well used, mostly for recreation. I am an all season bike commuter and would love to see more biking infrastructure in Rochester. There is no trail that connects my home to my work. 😐
Also a current Pittsburgh native who’s originally from Rochester!
I think Charleston should have gotten a mention. It has a pretty decent amount of bridges, although most of them are very generic. Specifically, I think the Ravenel Bridge deserved a mention. It’s a beautiful bridge, and it’s the tallest structure in the entire state of South Carolina. It’s also the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America, at almost 2 miles long. Being right at the mouth of the Cooper and Wando rivers where many cargo ports are located, it’s a huge point of pride for Charleston, and is one of the most iconic bridges in South Carolina.
When in Pittsburgh, don't forget to see the beautiful and historic Smithfield Street Bridge crossing the Monongahela River which uses very rare lenticular trusses.
As far as chicago and her bridges goes, they may not be big, but they are engineering marvels. There are more first of its kind bridges and only one like it bridges. Which kinda makes sense because of the city's architectural leadership as well. And when you are downtown, you feel like they are a huge part of the landscape. You are constantly walking across bridges.
Being a Bay Area resident, I have no qualm with being an honorable mention. We don't have many bridges that cross the bay and for good reason, it's too big. And while the ones that are there are miserable to cross with all the congestion, there doesn't seem to be any appetite to construct more. Instead the focus is on more cross-bay rail tunnels (with that idea only getting tepid support) and expanding ferry service (which personally I think every form of transit should have a bar as an additional revenue source).
Agreed. Our lack of bridginess is actually a good thing. We're expanding regional rail via tunnels, improving the existing bridges with bus and bike lanes, and doubling down on ferries. I'll take that over more bridges any day.
I dunno, I feel like if their basketball team has a bridge as their logo, and one of their bridges is world-famous, it should crack the top 10.
@@davidlineberger644 I like the way you think!
Nice topic. Great narration. Interesting to watch till the end. Tnx4sharing 👍
Great video CityNerd. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Yay, as a civil engineer working on the bridges in NYC, I'm so happy to see we got #2. When researching aluminum orthotropic decks as a possibility, I spent a lot of time looking into the Smithfield Street Bridge in Pittsburgh.
I successfully guessed the top 3 after seeing your initial 7. One city that could have been included in at least the honorable mentions is DC/Northern Virginia. Key Bridge and Memorial Bridge are beautiful, the new Frederick Douglas Memorial Bridge (South Capitol Street) is quite eye-catching, and the city is about to begin construction on Bridge Park, a new pedestrian/biking bridge spanning the Anacostia near the 11th Street Bridge. And within this decade a brand new rail bridge will be under construction (and open?) across the Potomac for Amtrak & VRE (and perhaps MARC if thru service happens). I also think the old bridges across Rock Creek Park at Pennsylvania Ave, M Street, and P Street are decent, and particularly Q Street, Mass Ave, Connecticut Ave/Taft Bridge, and the Duke Ellington/Calvert Street bridges are especially nice... though these bridges aren't over particularly navigable waterways so perhaps they don't really qualify for consideration based on your criteria. Of course the 14th Street Bridge doesn't have much beauty and the Roosevelt Bridge is especially ugly, but I'd say DC has a fair number of quality bridges either already in place and/or coming soon (and there are several others I didn't mention).
+1 for Memorial Bridge with iconic views on either end. Arlington Cemetery on the Virginia side, and the Lincoln Memorial on the DC side.
I know that this video is about "bridge cities" but in regards to the rare "floating bridges", Washington State has 3 of the 4 that are in the world--the two across Lake Washington and the Hood Canal Bridge.
I think Washington, DC deserved a mention. Not only are there some iconic bridges on the Potomac, but the stone goliaths in Rock Creek Park are stunning, and seem to come from nowhere out out of the trees.
As a Denverite I guess we can cross "City of Bridges" off of our list of possible city nicknames. Goes in the trash bin with "City of Dreams", "City of Beauty", "City of Trains", "Sin City #2: Without the Sin" and "Milwaukee of the Rockies"
Milwaukee of the Rockies! 😆
😂 What's with the last one?
Yep, I had the same TOP 3. Visited Pittsburgh in 2022 and walked the bridges-iconic views, though some of them with heavy interstate traffic
Well done. Pittsburgh is definitely shocking upon first viewing in terms how many bridges you can see at one time. The Chicago Skyway toll bridge is a an ode to 20th century industrialization. Appreciate the decidedly nerdy take of a shared interest.
I love your choices for this list. I lived in Pittsburgh, PA briefly and loved all of the bridges! I also loved the tunnels. Have you ever thought of making a video about tunnels in the USA? I know some people despise them for traffic issues they sometimes cause, but I find them fascinating! :) Thanks for the great videos!
The reason why the City of Pittsburgh's colors are Black and Gold goes all the way back to the seal of William Pitt. That is why you see the colors everywhere from the Sports Teams to the bridges. and much more
Great top choice in Pittsburgh! The view over the Fort Pitt bridge heading into the city never gets old. I would mention one other aspect though, which is the sheer number of bridges over ravines as well as rivers!
Of course, the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge might be top of mind, but the Panther Hollow, Bloomfield, and many other geographic bridges should enjoy their time in the sun.
Pittsburgh geography is wild. Way more topographically varied than any other city in the region. Pain in the ass to walk places though. 😂
I immediately wrote down my top 3, and my list matched yours. I also had St. Louis farther down, as you did, because the Eads Bridge, as you say, is beautiful, fascinating, and architecturally significant. Thanks for this interesting video.
Another great video, Ray. Was stoked and not at all surprised to see PGH in the no. 1 spot. Cheers! John
Good choice for #1. I grew up in Cleveland and I love the bridges along the Cuyahoga River in the flats. But, I went to school in Pittsburgh and marveled at the size and number of bridges.
I died a bit when you said Dusable and Calumet.
The I5 bridge in Portland does have pedestrian capacity: there are staircases on both sides leading to a sidewalk separated from the car traffic. While at a conference in the Doubletree on Hayden Island back in 1999 I walked to Vancouver to see a movie. That is to this day the only time I spent in Washington state, and my visit was solely on foot.
Yeah, it definitely does! That said, I have ridden my bike across it several times and it is NOT pleasant… but I think he missed steel bridge a couple points on the steel bridge: upper AND lower decks have pedestrian pathways, and I believe it is the only double deck vertical lift bridge with an independent lower level that telescopes into the upper level in the USA.
Love this content! The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge is one of my favorite bridges and I'm glad it got a name check.