Recent Pennsylvania Comments

Looks like this one will be coming down:

http://www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us/engr/future_projects.htm

An article with picture from Aptil 4, 2013 - previous temporary opening of the bridge:

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/montco_memo/Bryn-Athyn-residents-cheer-revival-of-historic-bridge.html?c=r

Looks like this bridge is coming down:

http://www.theintell.com/news/local/tinicum-plumstead-route-bridge-being-replaced/article_9adf2ef2-cd5b-54f1-ae02-579030cd4a57.html

Another update:

http://www.theintell.com/news/local/tinicum-supervisors-talk-bridge-construction/article_0562fcb7-1081-5dd3-bf0c-48e7d07711b2.html

Thanks for the info. Do you know where I can find an image of the Marysville bridge and an image of the Rockville bridge as they existed in their original form?

Closed indefinitely in July 2013 - ignored for decades.

May fall in 2113...

I was able to get out and take a lot of photos documenting the bridge's current condition on Nov. 19th compared to my shots dating from 2009 and 2010.

There appears to be major rust in the substructure. As well as rust all over showing that the bridge needed more care (at least painting) to keep it performing.

Also in my photos you can see the vertical they replaced back in 2010-11 and the guide rails that replaced the frail railing. This is a neat bridge and I hope they take care to restore.

Julie,

If the locals don't want it, I'm interested. I can take it and store it until sufficient funding is available to restore it, or if there are creative solutions towards funding/restoration I'll gladly give it a permanent home!

Regards,

Art S.

Well we just offered this bridge. I shall buy it and find a new home. Been sitting in a lot for five years.

And the Penn dot historian said they needed a group likevours to aid the groups that want these. And maybe could we present at BiWays. Asked to present in alabama too.

Hey Art would this bridgevwork for you?

We are changing things for the better.

Coming down in 2015

http://m.meadvilletribune.com/meadville/pm_112781/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=8PjOrrfc

Coming down soon...

http://m.meadvilletribune.com/meadville/pm_112781/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=8PjOrrfc

I believe the photos within this entry belong to this entry here:

http://bridgehunter.com/pa/chester/bh46337/

...and the photos from that entry belong here. The dimensions listed in this entry, as well as the coordinates do not match up with these photos. The street view would have to be changed as well here as it does not match with the map and coordinates within this entry. There is no railroad bridge above at these cords. Posted are pictures taken today at this location. It is obvious that they do not match the photos already posted.

Judging from the bridge dimensions (length) and the approximate lat / long (coordinates) I do believe the photos for this entry are that of the bridge listed here in this entry:

http://bridgehunter.com/pa/chester/bh46338/

...and visa-versa as the photos in that entry belong here in this one. There are two nearby nearly identical bridges within two miles of each other on US322. The one for this entry is closer to Downingtown and is the longer of the two and is located under the abandoned PRR freight line of this entry:

http://bridgehunter.com/pa/chester/bh47492/

The photos in that other entry show that RR bridge and thus belong here with this entry and these photos in this entry belong with that other entry. BTW, the bridge located at these coordinates is being replaced with a UCEB. Photos below show that taking place. The new bridge will be twice as wide as the current bridge with the current bridge being dismantled and the newer bridge widened. While there will not be any increase in travel lanes, the new bridge will have standard width shoulders.

Any idea when this bridge was first constructed?

I believe Section 106 applies to this bridge. Not that this will prevent demolition, but PennDOT cannot replace it until 106 is done.

Also, in the article, the following statement is one of the most annoying excuses I hear repeatedly that drives me nuts because if the hired engineer had even a tiny level of experience in rehabilitation of metal truss bridges, they would be able to accurately identify the areas and extent of deterioration prior to starting a project:

"Stoner said Wolf Bridge’s structural design presents the biggest problem, saying “the parts are so interconnected, there may be further signs of deterioration as the bridge is being disassembled.”

“It’s kind of like a house of cards,” he said. “The list of repairs can grow pretty quickly.”

This update suggests the decision is a said and done deal - http://cumberlink.com/news/local/wolf-bridge-likely-to-remain-closed-until-at-least/article_023bfeda-3d12-11e3-8433-0019bb2963f4.html

Good eye. This current bridge uses the original substructure, piers* and abutments of the covered bridge which opened in 1856.

According to Frank T. Dale's "Bridges over the Delaware River" this bridge's substructure previously carried motor vehicles across the Delaware River. Lumberville had saw mills and other businesses over the years.

Dale notes that the Joint Commission (formed by NY & PA) was rebuilding one of the piers* in 1942 and discovered the entire superstructure (except a recent steel addition added in 1903) had rotted beyond repair. So in 1944 they closed the bridge. This was during war times and steel was limited which delayed any rebuilding.

The Joint Commission decided the crossing wasn't necessary for vehicles and in 1947 they hired John A. Roebling & Sons to replace the old bridge with a modern one designed for pedestrians only. Today it is primarily used for folks going to the recreational island, Bulls Island State Park.

There was previously a covered bridge here:

http://www.delawareandlehigh.org/talesofthetowpath/delaware-canal/lumberville/

One span replaced after flooding:

http://www.soleburyhistory.org/oldpostcards.html

Closed in 1946, replaced 1947.

What was this thing to start with? The footings and piers look far too substantial for a footbridge. They also look far older than 1949.

Thanks, I've corrected the GPS.

Thanks, I've corrected the GPS.

Thanks, I've corrected the GPS.

Google Maps view shows incorrect location, correct location is:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=210666325969276794206.00048ae88ba11d3b27392&msa=0&ll=40.165904,-74.995658&spn=0.004821,0.010375

Google Maps view shows wrong location, correct location probably is:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=40%C2%B010'36%22+N,+74%C2%B054'00%22+W&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=40.185043,-74.921265&spn=0.001205,0.002594&sll=40.178086,-74.913368&sspn=0.15424,0.331993&t=h&z=19

Google Maps view seems to show the wrong location, correct location may be:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=40%C2%B010'36%22+N,+74%C2%B054'00%22+W&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=40.185043,-74.921265&spn=0.001205,0.002594&sll=40.178086,-74.913368&sspn=0.15424,0.331993&t=h&z=19

Unfortunately this bridge is now a concrete slab.

Please feel free to use any pictures uploaded here, on your site with my name as above.

You already added this bridge, Jodie: http://bridgehunter.com/pa/huntingdon/bh53396/

Another related article:

http://www.theintell.com/news/communities/willow-grove/montco-again-closes-lower-moreland-bridge-for-safety/article_ff01c1d0-1775-5d4f-9099-a89e2b685f3f.html

My guess is bridge is being replaced:

http://www.theintell.com/news/communities/palisades/penndot-to-host-open-house-for-headquarters-road-bridge-in/article_c4d70d44-165c-5967-92e2-eba9173991e1.html

http://www.theintell.com/news/communities/palisades/residents-share-concerns-over-tinicum-bridge-project/article_e1de6ff7-0422-5971-9d86-ace3d2ab86fc.html

The bridge is closed for repairs and, according to the article, is from 1893:

http://www.theintell.com/news/local/bucks-closes-a-second-bridge-in-nockamixon/article_0cf5e5c4-8afd-586d-a910-d60f98e0e12d.html

Awesome! Glad to see residents and local officials opposed that measure knowing a new UCEB would detract from the Fetter’s Mill Village historic district. Can't wait to see it restored in late 2014!

Here is a link to a picture of the bridge in 1910:

http://www.hopewellvalleyhistory.org/Did-you-know-Summertime.html

I believe such classification is already done by the site's current design, it just depends which "status" option is selected.

Perhaps, owing to how many suspension bridges are pedestrian-only, a logical classification would be Pedestrian and Non-Pedestrian.

Bridge to be restored by the county!

http://www.phillyburbs.com/00redesign/news/communities/willow-grove/montco-again-closes-lower-moreland-bridge-for-safety/article_25fb079a-800d-5730-ae39-1a5cc69bd991.html?mode=jqm

Regards,

Art S.

Some of the local fast food places around here have a 9' 0" clearance bar at the drive through. My suburban is a bit more than 6' including roof rack.

Monster truck SUVs and 18 wheelers, but not typical SUVs, I reckon.

Sheeder Mill Bridge was rehabilitated by PA DOT around 2010 and looks completely different then it did before although its historic structure was maintained.

This bridge is in Mercer County (Hopewell Township), not Hunterdon county.

Here is a picture of the wooden covered bridge on the same stonework taken in 1902:

http://www.hopewellvalleyhistory.org/Artist-at-Washington-Crossi.jpg

http://www.hopewellvalleyhistory.org/About-Us.html

9 ft 6 in clearance...do suvs have to detour?

Ah, excellent. That's pretty much what I was thinking. If you haven't finished tagging them yet I'll finish doing so when I get the chance.

I think that just creating new categories for the different types would work best, seeing as specific categories for eyebar suspension and cable stayed bridges already exist on the site.

I've gone ahead and created a wire/cable suspension category & a chain suspension category.

More specifically I'm referring to their place in the categories and tags; there's a 'suspension' category but few sub-categories in the tags that I can find other than the ones mentioned, so it isn't easy to browse by the different styles of suspension bridge, and it puts small wire suspension bridges and swinging bridges next to massive bay-spanning suspension bridges without an easy way of dividing them.

Since there are only a couple hundred suspension bridges on the site, I'll gladly take on the task of adding a couple more tags for the different types to make for easier browsing, unless this is a stupid idea lol.

Any suggestions on how to better categorize suspension bridges? Right now the sub-categories are: wire/cable, eyebar, and self-anchored.

I'm thinking we probably need a new category for wire suspension bridges, or at least a better way of separating the various types of suspension bridges on the site. As it stands I believe there's only a 'suspension' category.

Holy cow, that low hanging cable is an extreme danger to boaters.

Nice pattern done with the leaves in the first photo (among others).

Scudder Falls Bridge is scheduled to be replaced soon as it is a bottleneck on Interstate 95

Actually MPA was the correct reporting mark, but if Ma & Pa is preferred, than that's OK.

This bridge is closed indefinitely. Jersey barriers block each side of the bridge.

It's in PA.

Where is this bridge? The GPS coordinates indicate Pennsylvania yet the bridge information provided says Allegany, Maryland.

Closed again today, and likely doomed. I can see it being replaced more than refurbished.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/09/deficient_wolf_bridge_in_middl.html#incart_river_default

This Bridge/Overpass is not Doomed

S. York St. overpass is in Upper Allen Twp.

Sweet! Thanks Jodi! Lots of photos... Photos of some of the construction details... Captions and descriptions on some of the photos...

Nice! Thanks for sharing. *grin*

The floor beam to lower chord joints are rather unusual in that it uses four straight bolts. (photo 263497, taken from underneath, the one before "Under Decking")

It is a sharp skew, too. Looks to me like it's more than 45 degrees - maybe as much as 60 degrees.

This bridge has been closed for reconstruction.

Scheduled to reopen end of 2016!

A drawing of a Delair lift bridge with a swing span bridge.

Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.

August 2013, the bridge is closed (has been for a while now). It appears they are repairing the stone wall on the approach this time.

Attended a presentation on the Loyalsock Trail 8/10/2013 at Worlds End State Park. Jane Swift, Park Ranger and local resident, told us this bridge used to be in the park and was later moved to its present location further upstream from the park. She is extremely knowledgeable and may be able to tell you when it was relocated. We live in Corning and were surprised to discover the "local" connection!

This canal bridge is due to close for either repair or replacement on August 6th, 2013. A temporary span was installed coming straight off of the bridge crossing the river to carry traffic from N.J. into Riegelsville, PA

Looks like somebody does not like Italians...you would think that by now we would have left racist epithets in our past.

Whether you are from Athens, Sparta, or Rome, we are all people.

The bridge was removed in June 2009, not 2010. Although some were sad to see it go, it was an annoyance to have to slow down because of the narrowed lanes, and trying to proceed when a truck was in the opposing lane was unthinkable. There were many accidents at the site over the years, and it was right to remove it, hand-crafted by wop masons or not. It figures that lame Q-villians would obsess about something from 1904, which isn't that old at all. Also, so what about the stones, what are you going to do, eat them or decorate your living room with them? Are they holy? Can they raise the dead?

University Avenue bridge drawing.

Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.

That bridge is in Hilltown Township, not East Rockhill. I live on Callowhill rd. & cross it every day.

The last picure is an old bascule bridge before it was replaced.

Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.

Closed today, they were putting the signs in place this afternoon.

The Limekiln Pike Bridge and Rock Creek may be endangered by a proposed WaWa (with 16 gas pumps) that would be located in very close proximity to the bridge (proposed location -- Limekiln Pike and Ogontz/309. The WaWa traffic would come into the WaWa from Ogontz/309 and all of the WaWa traffic w/b diverted onto Limekiln Pike -- no access back onto 309. The amount of traffic including tanker trucks w/b detrimental to the Limekiln Pike Bridge. The storm water run off of oil/gasoline from leaky cars would not be good for Rock Creek. The Cheltenham Zoning Board is hearing the WaWa proposal 8/20/13 at 7:30 p.m. Curtis Hall-- If you are concerned about the Limekiln Pike Bridge and Rock Creek let the Cheltenham Zoning Board know or better yet attend the meeting. It is worth noting that the elected Commissioners did not even consider this when they voted on 7/3.

This bridge has been completely removed. New superstructure was built, the new bridge is now open for traffic.

Schuylkill River railroad bridge drawing.

Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.

I think the photos previously uploaded are of a different bridge somewhere.

Might as well pull that plaque off now and use it as a tombstone in Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Cemetery.

The Craighead bridge has been deemed unsafe:

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/07/craighead_bridge_slated_for_as.html

Article regarding the bridge with pictures:

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=493018

This bridge is in danger

Delaware River lift bridge drawings.

Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.

The Reserved Basin lift bridge technical drawing.

Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.

All that article is saying is PennDOT will conduct Section 106 which will consider rehabilitation, but also replacement. We all know what the usual outcome of Section 106 in Pennsylvania, and its NOT rehabilitation.

PennDOT and Historically Significant...

Now there's two things I never expected to hear in the same sentence...

This bridge is looking to be rehabilitated. Here's from an article from last year:

The other bridge to be updated along Main Street crosses over SEPTA tracks. The 1927 truss bridge is 137 feet long and was built by the Reading Railroad Co. It is both structurally deficient and functionally obsolete, posted with a 15-ton weight restriction.

“That doesn’t mean it’s unsafe, but it’s in need of attention,” said Gene Blaum, a PennDOT spokesman. “That’s the purpose of the project.”

PennDOT has determined the bridge is historically significant and contributes to Sellersville’s historic district, Fellin said.

Because of this, the department first must look at whether the bridge can be rehabilitated and get input from the public before proceeding, he added.

“If it can’t be rehabbed, we will be replacing it with something aesthetically pleasing,” Fellin said.

PennDOT expects to know whether the bridge over the railroad will be rehabilitated or replaced next year. Actual construction on the bridge wouldn’t begin until 2017 or after.

http://m.phillyburbs.com/my_town/pennridge/penndot-working-on-two-bridges-on-sellersville-s-main-street/article_88931313-7d44-5738-972b-b7b1cd8ee316.html

The dastards! How insulting that they intend to destroy another of my fine creations! I'll have to rebuke them sharply when they get up here! If they get up here!

Waste of tax payer money to take it down without any logical reason. That same money could go towards preserving the bridge.

Whipple trusses never disappoint, but this one is a really nice example!

How typical. Here we have an exceedingly rare pin-connected wrought iron Whipple truss. The county plans to demolish it for absolutely no reason (no replacement planned). The bridge could easily be left standing for pedestrians. The bridge design is more rare than any of the several wooden covered bridges in the county. Yet, once again, every single covered bridge in the county is preserved and has a fresh coat of paint on it, while this metal truss bridge (whose design is more rare in Pennsylvania than the designs of the covered bridges) is sentenced to the dumpster.

Nice!

Rebuilt in 2012... 1st picture is taking down old bridge...

Looks like the knotheads in charge of the Phalen Park Bridge project in Ramsey County, Minnesota, could take some lessons from these guys!

This bridge is being completely rebuilt the original way: with stone. It's an impressive project.

Although I cannot be certain, having not done any in-depth research on this particular bridge, it very likely may have originally been built in 1870. The structure matches the techniques of that time. In both 1898 and 1902 there were major floods in the Susquehanna watershed (and again in 1904, 1936, 1972, 1975, and 2011). It was common for these bridges to sustain enough damage to require a major repair/rebuild. There are other structures dating from those flood years in the watershed that fall into that category. Clifton Bridge (my "home bridge" here in Dauphin County) had a similar storied life. Built in 1822, it was heavily damaged by flood waters in 1862 (when the Union Canal dam burst at Water Works) and again in 1874. Some records mistakenly list it's build date as one of those two years - but those were actually a repair/rebuild of the original structure as opposed to a complete replacement. (Sadly, we lost it completely thanks to Agnes in 1972)

Can't wait to go bridge spotting tomorrow with my daughter Laran. She was with me when we found our bridge off it's piers. Pennsylvania doesn't have a great rep.

Any other bridges we should go see on our route from Baltimore, north to near Harrisburg?

Robert???? Tony???? Nathan???? Jason???? James????? anybody with an opinion.

Been too long since I've gone poking around a new bridge for me. Too much fun. And no, we are not making a dime off this investigative trip.

The date I posted was based on the Pre-Constuction schedule included with the contract package and very well may be subject to change. Its not uncommon for projects to be delayed slightly.

Our history is vanishing from the landscape, to be replaced with behemouth concrete monstrosities.

As of the June 2013 Summerhill Township Supervisors meeting, the Wing Road Bridge remains open for travel,with no word from PADOT as to an actual start date for demolition and replacement. Demolition had been slated for July 2013.

We've been asked to come and look at this bridge by a home owner nearby. The Township says it needs to be removed so that emergency vehicles, like a fire tanker can cross. There seem to be many alternative routes but the township, like so many others, have drank the coolaid and want it to be gone. It feeds rural area and not many people. Wonder how those tankers crossed before.

Nontheless, we will go shed some light and make some noise. What I do best, I guess, even when it goes nowhere someone has to stand up for these bridges. Nels will be at the end of the photographs making some assessments as well. We have experts and if the substructure is good, then why?

Tell me why? Have a great day folks. Going to go see the Orioles play the Red Sox. Should be a good old day at the ball field. Never been to Camden Yards before.

This bridge has been torn down and is being replaced (June 2013)

We weren't posting about who "got it" first.

Jacob pointed out that he'd accidentally added a bridge twice, I went "Oh hey I noticed that and made it into an entry for the new one" and he pointed out that there was already an entry for the 1907 bridge, thusly making the page a redundant entry for a different bridge.

Also, your claim that Jacob and my conversing is "clogging" the message boards is an asinine claim, as Jacob and I have made a total of THREE posts pertaining to the entry (Not including my response to your whine.)

So it seems that you're getting a wee bit irate over nothing.

Could you guys please send these things to each other instead of clogging up the message boards? Nobody else cares who got it first.

Well, I assumed that that bridge had been built on the same piers.

My bad.

But there is already a page for the 1900's bridge. ID is BH 43085

You accidentally made two entries for the 1800s bridge, so I made this entry for the 1900s bridge.

Ron Jones & I looked pretty hard for this bridge 6/5/09. If it's still there, we sure couldn't find it. The time to look for it would be during the winter months when there's no foliage. That area is quite overgrown in June.