Roberto Clemente Bridge

Roberto Clemente was a baseball legend who plied his trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifties and sixties and, in 1998, due to huge popular support, the 6th Street Bridge in the centre of Pittsburgh was renamed in his honour.

The naming of the bridge after this much-loved sports star is all the more apt given its location near PNC Park and Heinz Field, home of the Pirates and Steelers respectively – Pittsburgh’s two major sports teams. Any day either of these teams is in action, the bridge is closed to traffic and you can join the throngs of festive sports fans strolling across this beloved walkway.

There is always a party atmosphere on game days, with dozens of street performers lining the road and thousands of enthusiastic supporters crossing the Allegheny River to see their team play. Many Pittsburghers come along with the whole family and it’s well worth joining the masses even if you don’t have a ticket.

The Roberto Clemente Bridge is one of a trio of almost identical suspension bridges in the centre of Pittsburgh that are known as the Three Sisters. The other two are named for two other legendary former residents of the city, Rachel Carson and Andy Warhol. All three bridges are painted gold, after the official yellow and gold colours of the city and their design is unusual too, with steel eyebars used instead of cables, giving them a stunning, sweeping shape.

There has been a bridge on the 6th Street site since 1859 but the present structure dates from 1927. The bridge offers some of the best views of PNC Park in the city and at night is lit up with glittering blue lights extending to the stadium, making for a beautiful photo opportunity.

Roberto Clemente Bridge is open 24 hours a day and can be accessed via 6th Street.