Tube City Almanac

April 30, 2009

Dig We Must

Category: History, News || By


Above, in a photo taken during World War II, public works employees fill potholes on West Fifth Avenue near Rebecca Street, present-day location of the Elbow Room bar and restaurant.

The state has pledged $1 million to dig up the trolley tracks --- last used in 1963 --- and rebuild the road, which is owned by the city. State Department of Transportation statistics indicate that between 13,000 and 21,000 cars use West Fifth daily.

Below, the W.D. Mansfield Bridge is shown under construction, probably circa 1950. The 1,931-foot bridge owned by Allegheny County is currently one of 6,000 in Pennsylvania rated "structurally deficient" by state inspectors.

The Mansfield Bridge, which is scheduled for reconstruction later this year, received a score of 35 out of a possible 100, with structural components rated in "fair" or "poor" condition and road widths described as "functionally obsolete."

Allegheny County and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission have requested $38 million in federal stimulus funding to help pay for work on the Mansfield Bridge and another that connects Bellevue with the City of Pittsburgh.

(Both pictures contributed by an Almanac reader. Photographer and copyright status unknown.)






Your Comments are Welcome!

Love the first pic Jason, thanks. So the guy in the back standing under the Iron City sign must be the foreman? BTW, do you know where I can get my hands on vintage Iron City signage? Not a billboard mind you…I’d like it to fit in my home :>)
Dan - April 30, 2009



The picture and story about West Fifth Avenue and the $1 million dollars allocated from trolley track removal back in the day is interesting to me…how come the tracks were never removed? What did the “honest?” Mayor Jakomas do with that money? W. Fifth Avenue continues to resemble the Ho Chi Minh Trail and all reports for the sad condition is that the trolley tracks were never removed! Any one have thoughts to share?
Donn Nemchick - April 30, 2009



What is to become of the rails? Maybe they can be relocated to 5th ave downtown or run along the bike trail is Christy Park (it’s wide enough for both tracks and bicycles, as it was double-tracked when trains went through there)? Perhaps the Port Authority or the Washington Trolley Museum could loan a trolley during the warmer months until New Year’s day. It think it would attract visitors. I would go there.
Thee Dude - May 01, 2009



I get the impression that $1 million dollars allocated for the removal of the tracks is a recent development and not one that was available decades ago. Maybe it’s just the way I’m reading the post.
Bulldog - May 01, 2009



You are correct, Bulldog. As we reported back on April 3 (http://www.tubecityonline.com/almanac/entry_1223.php), State Reps. Kortz and Gergely and State Sen. Logan twisted Gov. Rendell’s arms and got him to release $1 million in transportation funding especially for this project.

It was not designated by the SPC as one of the projects intended for “stimulus” funding, probably because it’s a city-owned road, not a county, state or federal route.

The city was already planning to repave the street, but putting tar over the tracks (as was done about 10 years ago) would have eventually led to the same conditions. This should provide a longer-lasting job.
Webmaster - May 01, 2009



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