Kings Covered Bridge 38-56-06

Photos

Photo taken by Brian McKee in May 2009

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BH Photo #139910

Map

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Street View

Description

Although the history of this bridge has not been thoroughly documented, physical evidence suggests that King’s Bridge was originally built in the mid-nineteenth century and largely rebuilt in 1906. Bypassed in the 1930s, King’s Bridge was privately owned and maintained by the King family of Middlecreek Township, who used it as a livestock barn until 2002. The bridge is currently undergoing rehabilitation and will be preserved as an historic landmark and tourist attraction. King’s Bridge is a good example of a multiple kingpost truss and has been retrofitted with unusual auxiliary tied arches. It is one of ten surviving covered bridges in Somerset County, whose dates range from 1845 to 1902.

-- Historic American Engineering Record

Facts

Overview: Burr arch-truss bridge over Laurel Hill Creek on Bypassed section of PA653
Location: Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Status: Open to pedestrians
History: Rebuilt 1906 at site of earlier bridge; extensively rebuilt ca. 2010
Design: Burr arch-truss
Dimensions: Span length: 127.0 ft.
Total length: 127.0 ft.
Deck width: 12.0 ft.
Recognition: Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on December 11, 1989
Approximate latitude, longitude: +39.93800, -79.27122 (decimal degrees)
39°56'17" N, 79°16'16" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 17/647705/4422306 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:: Kingwood
Inventory numbers: WGCB 38-56-06 (World Guide to Covered Bridges number)
NRHP 80003632 (National Register of Historic Places reference number)
BH 42541 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

November 26, 2014: Updated by Alexander D. Mitchell IV: added link to restoration report
July 9, 2014: New photos from Andrew Raker
March 7, 2014: Updated by Dave King: Added NRHP info, street view, exact date built and imported photos
October 23, 2011: Updated by Nathan Holth: Listed Owner: Township
May 9, 2009: New photos from Brian McKee
May 8, 2009: Added by Brian McKee

Sources

Brian McKee - bjmckee51 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Nathan Holth
Dale Travis Covered Bridge List
Todd Wilson
Dave King - DKinghawkfan [at] hotmail [dot] com
HAER PA-638 - King's Bridge, Spanning Laurel Hill Creek at bypassed State Highway No. 653, New Lexington, Somerset County, PA
Andrew Raker
Alexander D. Mitchell IV
Kings Bridge Rehabilitation Report - Graphics from presentation on bridge's complete restoration and repair