Philadelphia is amongst the oldest and most significant towns in America, and for fans of history and design there’s plenty to see when it comes to its Philadelphia bridges that have survived through the ages. Behind those stone and steel constructions lay different stories of their planning and origins. The historic bridges this city showcases are not only nationally recognised but acknowledged by many international organizations also. Below are instances of bridges you can find around Philadelphia.

Frankford Avenue Bridge

One of the earliest bridges in Philadelphia is the Frankford Avenue Bridge which was erected on 1697 at the decree of William Penn. Its original name was King’s Path but ultimately modified to several names like King’s Highway, Bristol Turnpike, and now currently holding the name Frankford Avenue Bridge. In 1893, there was a major reconstruction made. The width of the bridge was increased to the south side of the bridge by the addition of a stone arch. This bridge is also known as the Pennypack Creek Bridge since it carries a road over the Pennypack. Reportedly to be the oldest road bridge in the U. S. , this bridge was designated by the North American Society of Civil Engineering a National Civic Engineering Landmark in 1970.

The Benjamin Franklin Bridge

Opened and completed in 1926, this bridge was a creation of Paul Philippe Cret. This is the same designer who participated in the design of the famous Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway with Ralph Modjeski as the chief engineer. What makes this one of the more favored Philadelphia bridges is the construction of the two tall towers allegedly joining with the sky as you pass under them. This is the primary road that links Philadelphia’s Center City to New Jersey. The bridge also brings you to 2 churches that are historic landmarks, St. Augustine and St. George’s churches.

Falls Bridge

Erected in 1895 by Filbert Porter and Co, this bridge has been through major reconstruction since 1986. It has got a measurement of 40 feet width and 600 feet long. It also has a deck width of 25.9 feet. It was assembled as a double-deck bridge which connects Calumet Street to Kelly Drive with the West Brook Drive at Neill Drive. This is located at the other side of the famous Schuylkill. Originally, the historical bridge was built to carry vehicular traffic on the bottom deck while streetcars travel on the top deck. The bridge has a Petit Through-Truss, pin-connected, and baroque structure.

Strawberry Mansion Bridge

Strawberry Mansion Bridge, originally called “Trolley Bridge”, has long been intertwined with affairs of the Fairmount Park Transportation Company. This bridge was erected in 1897 and was refurbished in 1998 to connect East Park and West Park. The brains behind the construction was Charles H. Porter, a very famous Philadelphia glad-hander with Russell Fair, Jr, as the chief engineer. The bridge has fantastic 4 wrought-iron arches on 3 stone piers with three Warren trusses.

42nd Street Bridge

Last though not the least is the 42nd Street Bridge which is a main route on 42nd Street over the Amtrak Railroad. This metal through arch bridge was created in 1909 by Owego Bridge Company of Owego, Big Apple and the Philadelphia Department of Public Works. In 2006, it went through a major rehab and received a 9/9 (glorious) rating, the highest possible rating from the Nation's Bridge Inventory. This bridge is one of the most well liked bridges in Philadelphia thanks to the fact that it is the oldest metal steel bridge in Pennsylvania.

Thomas Franklin has had an interest in Philadelphia landmarks for many years. She has written op-eds and editorial pieces for many online publications. For the details about Philadelphia bridges please visit her site.