Girard Avenue Bridge

Girard Avenue Bridge
Third (current) Girard Avenue Bridge (approaches 1956, bridge 1971)
Carries	US 13 (Girard Avenue)
Crosses	Schuylkill River
Locale	Philadelphia
Followed by	1873-74, 1969-72
History
Inaugurated	1852-55

The Girard Avenue Bridge is an automobile and trolley bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that carries Girard Avenue (U.S. Route 13) over the Schuylkill River. It connects the east and west sections of Fairmount Park, and the Brewerytown neighborhood with the Philadelphia Zoo. The current bridge is the third built on the site.

The first Girard Avenue Bridge was built 1852-55. Rudolph Hering is credited with the design; it was constructed by Adolphus Bonzano, and cost $267,000. It carried Girard Avenue over the East River Drive, the Schuylkill River, the Schuylkill Canal, and the West River Drive. A horse-drawn trolley was added in 1859. The trolley route later became the SEPTA Route 15 trolley. The bridge was a three span timber arched Howe truss bridge.

The bridge lasted less than 20 years. In December 1872, a grand jury found that it was poorly constructed and dangerous. A temporary bridge was constructed, that also served as falsework for the second bridge.

First Girard Avenue Bridge (foreground), circa 1867-72.

"First Girard Avenue Bridge" (1855-1872).

Drawing of the first Girard Avenue Bridge (1871) by Thomas Eakins.

Max Schmitt in a Single Scull (1871) by Thomas Eakins. The first Girard Avenue Bridge is visible in the background, beyond the Pennsylvania Railroad, Connecting Railway Bridge.