Rating:
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Freeman School Road Bridge

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Photo 

Freeman School Road - June 23, 2007

Side View

Photo taken by Raymond Klein

Enlarge

BH Photo #133156

Map 

Description 

FROM THE 1996-2001 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORIC BRIDGE SURVEY: 'The single span, 114'-long and 17'-wide, pin connected, Pratt thru truss bridge is traditionally composed with the built up box section upper chords and inclined end posts using X pattern bars instead of the lacing. The verticals are angles with a laced web, and the diagonals and lower chords are eye bars. In 1981 the bridge has been strengthened by welding additional members. It is attributed to John Denithorne based on the design of the built up box section upper chords and end posts and sizes of the eye bars. Denithorne was a prolific builder of metal truss bridges in the region, and there are several complete and earlier examples of his work in Montgomery County, including 46 7046 0620 0059. This example is later, does not have any innovative or distinctive details, and has been altered with additional members welded to it. It is not historically or technologically significant because of its alterations.'

Facts 

Overview
Through truss bridge over East Branch Perkiomen Creek on Freeman School Road
Location
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Status
Replaced by a new bridge
History
Built 1896; rehabilitated 1981
Builder
- John Denithorne & Sons of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Design
Pratt through truss
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 112.9 ft.
Total length: 117.1 ft.
Deck width: 15.1 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 12.0 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude
+40.28025, -75.40960   (decimal degrees)
40°16'49" N, 75°24'35" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
18/496729/4430902 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Perkiomenville
Average daily traffic (as of 1992)
1,000
Inventory numbers
PA 46 7046 0230 0147 (Pennsylvania Bridge Management System number)
PANBI 27918 (Pennsylvania BRKEY bridge number on the 2011 NBI)
BH 31355 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection report (as of September 2008)
Overall condition: Poor
Superstructure condition rating: Imminent Failure (1 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Serious (3 out of 9)
View more at BridgeReports.com

Categories 

19th Century (6,743)
8-panel truss (358)
Built 1896 (248)
Built during 1890s (2,686)
John Denithorne & Sons (6)
Lost (20,974)
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (200)
One-lane traffic (7,530)
Owned by county (19,517)
Pennsylvania (4,732)
Pin-connected (3,643)
 Pratt through truss (4,823)
Pratt truss (8,402)
Replaced by new bridge (13,773)
Span length 100-125 feet (4,189)
Structurally deficient (17,362)
Sufficiency rating zero (283)
Through truss (13,724)
Total length 100-125 feet (4,894)
Truss (30,721)
Wooden deck (5,975)

Update Log 

  • April 3, 2013: Updated by Nathan Holth: This bridge has been demolished and replaced.
  • May 5, 2012: Updated by Jodi Christman: Added builder & description
  • July 26, 2011: Updated by Nathan Holth: Updated planned demolition date.
  • March 31, 2010: Updated by Nathan Holth: This historic truss bridge is now doomed.
  • March 7, 2009: Updated by Raymond Klein: AddedLower Salford Township to name. Changed overview from Philadelphia to Lower Salford township. Added Lower Salford Twp to City (Harleysville, PA), USGS from Frankford to Quakertown, PA.
  • February 9, 2009: New photo from Raymond Klein

Sources 

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Comments 

Freeman School Road Bridge
Posted August 22, 2017, by george oakley (georgeoakley49 [at] yahoo [dot] com)

I just looked on street view and saw this bridge was replaced.Didn't know they finally tore this bridge down.

Freeman School Road Bridge Lower Salford Township
Posted June 11, 2009, by Robert Smith (bobsmith1vp [at] comcast [dot] net)

Bridge is closed to traffic.