Rochester–Monaca Bridge

The Rochester–Monaca Bridge/Monaca–Rochester Bridge is a steel through continuous truss bridge which crosses the Ohio River between Monaca, Pennsylvania and Rochester, Pennsylvania.

Rochester–Monaca Bridge
Monaca–Rochester Bridge
The Rochester approach to the bridge.
Coordinates40°41′47″N 80°16′57″W / 40.6965°N 80.2825°W / 40.6965; -80.2825
Carries2 lanes of PA 18 / BicyclePA Route A
CrossesOhio River
LocaleMonaca, Pennsylvania, Rochester, Pennsylvania
Characteristics
DesignSteel continuous truss bridge
Longest span780 feet (240 m)[citation needed]
Clearance below69 feet (21 m)[citation needed]
History
Opened1896, 1930, 1986
Location
Map

It opened in 1986 and is the third bridge to occupy the site. It replaced a 1930 steel truss cantilever bridge which itself replaced a suspension bridge built in 1896.

Naming tradition

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1914 postcard photo of the original Monaca–Rochester suspension bridge

From 1987 to 2009, the bridge was named each year in honor of the winner of the Rochester vs. Monaca high school football game.[1] In 1988, the Rochester Manager Ed Piroli and Monaca Manager Tom Stoner made a bet signed with a handshake that gave the naming rights of the bridge to the winning team of that year.[2] With Monaca High School's merger into Central Valley High School, the 2009 game was the final game to determine naming rights. By winning the 2009 game, the bridge became known as the Rochester–Monaca Bridge through the end of the 2009 school year.

Since then it has been called the Rochester–Monaca Bridge on the Rochester side, and the Monaca-Rochester Bridge on the Monaca side.[1] Both towns' police departments respond to incidents on the bridge, with the incident location on the bridge deciding which town takes charge of incident.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Rochester-Monaca Rivalry Cames To An End". Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: KDKA, CBS Broadcasting. 2009-10-31. Archived from the original on 2009-12-04.
  2. ^ David, Brian. "DYING TRADITION ON FRIDAY NIGHTS? SMALL TOWNS CLING TO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IN FACE OF POSSIBLE MERGERS". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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