Tom Ratchkauskas Photography: 57 Varieties of Yellow Bridges - Three Rivers Heritage Trail

What a difference two weeks makes. A walk along the North Shore section of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail was aided by temperatures in the 50's and unique skies created by the weather patterns of fall. Leaves still clung to tree branches and retained some color on November 6th, a stark contrast to the cloud filled skies, snow squalls and record low temperatures of the last few days.

This section of the 25 mile trail is bounded by history, stretching from the Heinz Plant down to Point State Park, passing under numerous steel yellow bridges named after historical Pittsburgh figures. Although I have taken photographs along this section of the trail many times, each shoot provides new subject matter, lighting and vantage points, as summer flowers give way to brown and orange leaves, pouring fountains reduce or terminate their flow altogether and harsher summer light gives way to warmer cloud subdued colors. Focus shifts from the sprawling view of the city to the shifting plant life and to ground level where leaves end their life cycle.

The trail access starts you off next to the historic H.J Heinz plant, erected in the 1800's and famous for its "57 varieties", exemplified with superb architecture and brickwork, a structure reminiscent of Pittsburgh's strong, industrial past. River access points along the next leg of the trail allow for expansive views of the 16th Street Bridge, named after famed Pittsburgh born author David McCullough, easily my favorite bridge in Pittsburgh, with its unique arched design and obligatory Pittsburgh yellow paint. Passing under I-579, again painted yellow, opens up views of downtown and the David L, Lawrence Convention Center, Naturally framed by trees and bridge trusses. New age architecture rises along the bank of the Allegheny River, metallic curves of the Alcoa Building mimicking the motion of the waters.

The middle section of the North Shore Trail takes you under the sister bridges, the 9th, 7th and 6th Street Bridges, named after Pittsburgh greats, Rachael Carson, locally born naturalist, Andy Warhol, Pittsburgh born pop artist, and Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates and MLB legend, in that order. The three bridges are reminiscent of miniature Golden Gate Bridges, painted yet again in the famed Pittsburgh yellow with triangular trusses and arched towers, well decorated and connecting the North Side to downtown over the Allegheny River.

The last section of the trail is the most unique and invokes the most Pittsburgh pride, with magnificent views of Point State Park, memorials to veterans and Pittsburgh greats like Mr. Rogers and a walkway just steps from PNC Park and Heinz Field, yet again passing under the yellow Fort Duquesne Bridge. Pictures from this section of the trail can be seen in my previous post from October 16th entitled "Changing of the Seasons."

This section of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail encompasses Pittsburgh's history in a three mile walk. If started across from Point State Park, one can walk from the humble beginnings of the Forks of the Ohio, the former site of Fort Pitt and Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War and walk down to a beacon of what put this city on the map, industry, all while walking a trail interspersed with Pittsburgh greats and modern advancements.