Before the 1920s, there was Woodlawn and Economy, and no access to either town through traffic. In fact, there were no bridges connecting the north and south portions of the Ohio River at all.

Nearly 100 years later, the Ambridge-Aliquippa bridge is undergoing construction with the goal of maintaining structural integrity, as it has become a major artery connecting Aliquippa with Ambridge over the Ohio River. The bridge was built in 1927 and has become essential for travelers in Beaver County and northern parts of Allegheny County.

Beaver County historian Jeffrey Snedden joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to talk about the history of the Ambridge-Aliquippa bridge, which originated with the industrial overhauling by both American Bridge Company and Jones & Laughlin Steel (among others) combined with the ongoing rise of automobile transportation.

The bridge itself became crucial in connecting the Ambridge and Aliquippa sides to each other, but it also became a crucial part in the cultural rivalry the two communities share. The dedication of the bridge in 1927, despite a crowd of nearly 20,000 to celebrate, created some angst whenever the current County Commissioner Chairman decided to anchor the ceremony…and one community got left in the dark.

To hear the full story (or as much as can be coddled in ~20 minutes), click on the Facebook feed below!