American Bridge Company
| File:American Bridge logo.svg | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Civil Engineering |
| Founded | 1900 |
| Headquarters | Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Key people | Frank Renda, CEO |
| Products | bridge construction infrastructure development marine engineering |
| Revenue | Increase$328 million USD |
Number of employees | 500 |
| Parent | Southland Holdings LLC |
| Website | americanbridge.net |
The American Bridge Company is a specialized heavy and civil construction enterprise focusing on the erection and restoration of bridges and other large-scale, intricate structures. Established in 1900, its main office is situated in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, close to Pittsburgh. The firm has been responsible for numerous landmark constructions both within the United States and internationally, such as the Willis Tower, Empire State Building, and Chrysler Building. During World War II, it contributed to the war effort by manufacturing tank landing ships (LSTs) for the U.S. Navy. In 2020, ownership transferred to Southland Holdings LLC.
History
Founded in April 1900, American Bridge Company emerged from the merger of 28 prominent American steel fabricators and construction firms under the leadership of J.P. Morgan & Co.. Its roots extend back to the late 1860s through the Keystone Bridge Company, noted for building the Eads Bridge spanning the Mississippi River. In 1902, it became a subsidiary of United States Steel as part of the Steel Trust integration.
The company was instrumental in advancing steel fabrication and construction methodologies, facilitating their extensive application across buildings, bridges, ships, and various infrastructure projects worldwide.
During the Second World War, American Bridge produced naval vessels for the U.S. Navy; this period was artistically captured by Thomas Hart Benton through his sketches and paintings. The company transitioned to private ownership in 1987 before being acquired by Continental Engineering Corporation in 1988.
Its headquarters located along the Ohio River near Pittsburgh in Coraopolis benefits strategically from close access to steel suppliers and transportation networks vital to its operations.
In October 2020, Texas-based Southland Holdings LLC purchased American Bridge Company for an undisclosed sum but preserved its brand identity and local workforce to support ongoing expansion and maintain its market position.
Notable projects
This list highlights select significant projects but is not comprehensive.
Bridges
- 1908 Puente Negro, Culiacan, Mexico
- 1910 Willow Creek Bridge, Madras, Oregon
- 1926 Hercilio Luz Bridge, Florianópolis, Brazil
- 1927 Silver Bridge, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
- 1936 San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, connecting San Francisco and Oakland, California
- 1939 Exchange Street Bridge, Athol, Massachusetts
- 1950 William Cullen Bryant Viaduct, linking Flower Hill and Roslyn, New York
- 1957 Mackinac Bridge, spanning the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan
- 1961 Puente Hermanos Patiño, located in Santiago, Dominican Republic
- 1964 Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, across New York Harbor
- 1997 Macarthur Causeway, in Miami, Florida
- 2017 Genesee Arch Bridge, within Letchworth State Park, near Portageville, New York
Constructed the longest concrete segmental cable-stayed bridge in the United States:
- 1986 Sunshine Skyway Bridge, over Tampa Bay, Florida
Built some of South America’s and Europe’s longest suspension bridges:
- 1967 Venezuela’s Orinoco Bridge
- 1966 Lisbon’s April 25 Bridge in Portugal
Set world records for longest arch bridges on three occasions:
- 1977 West Virginia’s New River Gorge Bridge at 518 m (1,700')
- 1932 The Bayonne Bridge connecting Staten Island and New Jersey at 504 m (1,652')
- 1916 New York City’s Hell Gate Bridge measuring 298 m (978')
Constructed the world’s longest continuous self-supporting truss bridge:
- 1966 Oregon’s Astoria Bridge spanning 376 m (1,232')
Significant rehabilitation efforts include:
- 1995 Relocation of a Norfolk Southern vertical lift bridge from Florence, Alabama to Hannibal, Missouri
- 1998 Execution of the first aerial spinning of main cables on a loaded suspension bridge (April 25 Bridge in Lisbon)
- 2001 Replacement of stiffening truss on a loaded suspension bridge (Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver)
- 2002 Joint venture with Fluor Corporation (American Bridge-Fluor) to replace the eastern span of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge
Buildings
American Bridge Company has repeatedly been responsible for erecting some of the tallest structures globally, including:
- The Woolworth Building in New York City (1913)
- The Chrysler Building in New York City (1930)
- The Empire State Building in New York City (1931)
- The Sears Tower in Chicago (1974)
Additional significant constructions encompass:
- The Flatiron Building in New York City (1902)
- The John Hancock Center in Chicago (1969)
- The John Hancock Tower in Boston (1969)
- The U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh (1971)
- Disney's Contemporary Resort in Orlando (1971)
- The Aon Center in Chicago (1973)
- The Columbia Center in Seattle (1975)
The company also twice completed the largest buildings worldwide by volume:
- The Vehicle Assembly Building in Titusville (1966)
- The Boeing Everett Factory in Everett (1967)
Moreover, they were responsible for constructing prominent domed stadiums such as:
- The Houston Astrodome (1964)
- The Louisiana Superdome (1974)
Miscellaneous
Highlighted projects that showcase the firm’s engineering capabilities include:
- Jacking operations for a space launch complex performed for McDonnell Douglas Astronautics (now part of Boeing) in 1994
- Fabrication of the underlying framework for modular rooms at Walt Disney World's Contemporary Resort (1971)
- Heavy-lift crane installations including the 350-ton Hammerhead Crane at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (1940) and the 460-ton Hunters Point Gantry Crane at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard (1947)
- Structural steel assembly for Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction, employing over 2,100 individual steel components