PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County officials are considering selling advertising or naming rights to local bridges as a way to raise revenue.

The county maintains more than 520 bridges; County Council member Ed Kress says the larger ones may interest sponsors.

The county council on Tuesday directed the Department of Public Works and the county manager to evaluate which bridges would be suitable to carry advertising, naming rights or sponsorships. Only bridges greater than 20 feet long will be considered.

Kress told The Associated Press on Wednesday that it’s too soon to say how much money bridge naming might generate for the county. Chicago began selling bridge sponsorships recently, he said, and a private company estimated that city might bring in more than $10 million a year from such deals.

“Every city is different. We have some really, really highly visible bridges,” Kress said, mentioning those near the major sports stadiums that are home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates.

The county has a long series of steps to go through before anything is final, Kress said.

He said many people assume all sponsorships would be from corporations, but that might not be the case. A nonprofit or civic group might raise money to put a public service announcement on a bridge, he said.