Lamington Road over Rockaway Creek Bridge west

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Prior to "engulfing", Hunterdon County made this report in 2002: "The bridge carries one lane of a lightly traveled country road over Rockaway Creek. It is located in a wooded rural setting adjacent to a well-preserved 18th-century farmstead. The unspoiled setting contributes to the significance of the bridge." "PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The single-span Pratt thru-truss bridge is almost entirely original except for an asphalt filled corrugated metal deck. The bridge consists of what appears to be wrought iron I-beam stringers and floor beams hung with U-bolts from two truss lines. The trusses consist of inclined end posts and top chords built up from two channels and a cover plate with widely spaced battens. An unusual detail is that the ends of the top chords extend slightly beyond the portal diagonals and are finished with a decorative palingended end cap. The principal diagonals and bottom chord consists of round headed eyebars. The counters consist of rods with turnbuckles for adjustment. The verticals consist of channels with lacing. The original diagonal-pattern lattice railings are present along both truss lines. The bearing plate is an incline which results from the masonry plates having inclined web extensions. The rationale behind this bearing type is unclear. The bearings at both abutments are inclined back away from the span. There is no clear indication if one or both sets of bearings were intended to be the expansion bearings. The pins in the bearings have been welded in position. The abutments consist of rubble stone masonry of poor quality, with U-type wingwalls. Concrete toe walls have been placed in front of both abutments to protect from scour. HISTORICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The date of construction and fabricator of the well-preserved pin-connected Pratt thru truss bridge has not been documented in the County Engineer's records, but the span is mostly original, with few alterations, making it a good representative example of the important bridge type (criterion C). It is technologically distinguished by two unusual features not found on other thru truss bridges in the county. The top chord portal connection connotes extraordinary attention to detail. The inclined bearings appear to indicate a unique design philosophy. In addition to the preservation of the unusual construction details, the span enjoys integrity of setting in a wooded rural area adjacent to the Ten Eick-Weed farmstead, which includes a frame farmhouse with a stone wing, an English barn, and a smaller frame barn."

see: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/works/environment/pdf/Historic_BR_Hunterdon.pdf

Oh, and on a summer 2012 Saturday, this road, 1/2 mile past a local golf course, was seeing at least a vehicle per minute, at 40mph or faster.

Categories 

Hunterdon County, New Jersey (124) Lost 2000 (331) Lost during 2000s (3,098) NR-eligible (3,750) New Jersey (751) One-lane traffic (7,119) Open (28,453) Owned by county (16,526) Pin-connected (1,568)

Pratt through truss (3,184) Pratt truss (5,687) Preserved (662) Span length 50-75 feet (7,011) Through truss (9,252) Total length 50-75 feet (6,907) Truss (23,613) Whitehouse Station, New Jersey (3)

Update Log 

• August 18, 2012: Updated by Andrew Pearce: Lost bridge found; it was hiding inside the new bridge in the same spot

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