Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday unanimously granted historic designation to the city’s three Sister Bridges.
The Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol and Rachel Carson bridges — also known as the Sixth Street, Seventh Street and Ninth Street bridges, respectively — connect the Central Business District with the North Shore.
The trio were built from 1924-28.
Their origins came after Allegheny County approved $29.2 million in bonds to construct new new bridges, roads and buildings to be able to move goods and war materials along its rivers, in response to a 1917 federal mandate that rivers be more navigable. The Sister Bridges are among 41 bridges constructed by Allegheny County in that four-year span.
The bridges mark the first self-anchored suspension spans in the nation and the only known trio of nearly identical bridges, according to a historic nomination packet prepared by engineering firm Michael Baker International on behalf of Preservation Pittsburgh, which nominated the bridges.
The iconic yellow bridges recently saw the installation of a $6 million LED light project that can display various colors.
The bridges also are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Julia Burdelski is a TribLive reporter covering Pittsburgh City Hall and other news in and around Pittsburgh. A La Roche University graduate, she joined the Trib in 2020. She can be reached at jburdelski@triblive.com.