The bridge carries a 2 lane road over a stream in a sparsely developed setting adjacent to Warwick County Park, a recreational greenspace with playground and nature trails. No buildings are adjacent to the bridge. The road serves as a park access road, but is on an older right-of-way in existence before the park.
The 3 span, 54'-long bridge built in 1915 consists of an approximately 44'-long steel thru girder span with rolled floorbeams and open steel grid deck over the stream flanked by 5'-long stone arch overflow spans. The bridge is supported on a stone substructure. Fieldstone wingwalls with parapets enclose the approach roadways. Incorporated with the wingwalls are the short stone arch overflow spans. Thru girder bridges are a very common bridge type in widespread use from the late 19th century through the mid 20th century. This example has no technologically unusual or noteworthy features, and incorporates details, such as the stone arch overflow spans and wingwalls, that are very typical of bridges designed by Chester County Engineer Nathan R. Rambo from 1899 to 1922. The bridge is not significant in the state context, and earlier prototypical examples have been chosen to represent the bridge type's significance in the county context. The bridge is not historically significant in association with its setting.
Engineer: NATHAN R. RAMBO, CO ENG Contractor: MORRIS KNAUER
James,
Chester County is noted for its large collection of highway plate girder bridges that were designed by county engineer Nathan Rambo. Rambo seems to have done a lot of bridge building since many county bridges remaining today are associated with him. He was unusual for building stone arch bridges into the early 20th Century. He also delineated plate girders (often with stone abutments instead of concrete more common for the period, showing his continuing preference for stone). The bridge you found is one of at least two surviving bridges Rambo designed that display both of his favorites. It has a plate girder main span and two tiny stone arch spans integrated into the abutments. It is likely very similar to the bridge I have on file here:
http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowse...
I will also add Historic Bridge Inventory data for this bridge you found for your interest.
Ok need help here.......found this bridge on google earth.....looks interesting, but could not make out details. Found on NBI and it was built in 1915. Could not get a street view so I can not make it out. Any help would be appreciated.
Very unique...