Strawberry Mansion Bridge

Almost 100 years after the Strawberry Mansion Bridge was erected, the City of Philadelphia forced it to close for renovation. Almost 60,000 ft2 (5,574 m2) of hot-dip galvanized open-grid flooring was filled with concrete. Galvanized rebar connected the grids instead of welds. This not only saved welding costs but also avoided any possibility of future problems with the welds. This bridge was constructed to accommodate the pedestrian and trolley traffic of the 1890s. Retaining the bridge's historical character and detailed ornamental aspects was a requirement of this restoration. Hot-dip galvanized steel has helped to preserve this reminder of the 19th century and assures that visitors will be able to enjoy its graceful structure well into the 21st century.