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Bairs Mill Bridge

   

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Bridge Documented: May 31, 2010

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth and Rick McOmber

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Key Facts

	Bridge Name	Facility Carried / Feature Intersected	Location	Structure Type	Construction Date and Builder/Engineer
!	Bairs Mill Bridge	Bairs Mill Road Over Kreutz Creek	Rural: York County, Pennsylvania	Metal 6 Panel Pin-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Fixed	1893 By Builder/Contractor: Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio

Technical Facts

Main Span Length	Structure Length	Roadway Width	Main Spans	NBI Number
87 Feet (26.5 Meters)	87 Feet (26.5 Meters)	12.5 Feet (3.8 Meters)	1	66721207733064

View Archived National Bridge Inventory Report - Has Additional Details and Evaluation

This historic bridge is slated for demolition and replacement!

This bridge is a six panel pin-connected Pratt through truss. It has been altered by the addition of two beams which have been welded to the truss, and an added pier which essentially turn the single span bridge into a two-span continuous truss. Given the number of better and unaltered examples of this bridge type which have been demolished in York County, this bridge today is far more rare and significant on an individual basis than it was in years past despite this alteration. Also, aside from this alteration, the bridge still retains most of its original materials and design, including original builder plaque. Further, the historic bridge contributes to a potential historic district, since the bridge is located next to a historic mill complex. The bridge and mill are today are rare example of an intact scene that would have been commonplace at the turn of the 20th Century, which is a mill along a river with a bridge located right next to the mill. Often, the bridges were built to provide access to and serve the needs of the mill.

All of these areas of significance and rarity are meaningless to PennDOT and other involved agencies who decided that the only way to deal with a historic bridge that serves a mere 140 cars a day, was not found structurally intolerable by the National Bridge Inventory, had no structural evaluation rating lower than "Poor," and clearly could have been rehabilitated for less than the cost of replacement given those ratings is to demolish the bridge and replace it with a slab of pre-stressed concrete box beams.

As required by federal law, the bridge is being marketed for relocation and preservation by a third party, however nobody has stepped forward. This is a bridge that should not have to be moved, since it is clear that a rehabilitation would keep it a safe and functional crossing for the light vehicular traffic it serves for decades to come. Further, relocating the bridge would separate it from the potential historic district it contributes to. However in Pennsylvania, finding a third party to relocate and preserve the bridge is usually the only way to save a bridge, since PennDOT tends to be somewhat lacking in compromise and common sense when it comes to determining the feasibility of preserving a historic bridge in place.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory Discussion of Bridge The 90'-long, pin-connected, metal Pratt thru truss bridge built in 1893 has been converted from a single span to two spans by the addition of a concrete pier underpinning the floorbeam at midspan (1954). The midpanel diagonal eye bars have been strengthened by weld-connected I beams and gusset plates at the panel points. The bridge has double-looped floorbeam hangers in the end panels, a trademark of the fabricator, the Wrought Iron Bridge Co. The bridge is an altered example of a bridge type/design and fabricator that are well represented by other more complete examples in the county. It is not individually distinguished, however, it does have the integrity necessary to contribute to the potential Strickler Mill historic district. It is from the district's period of significance, and it is within the boundaries of the district. Discussion of Surrounding Area The bridge carries a 1 lane road over a stream at Strickler Mill. The 1878 brick mill building complete with machinery (non-operable) is at the northwest quadrant. There are also a ca. 1878 brick residence at the southwest quadrant and a barn at the southeast quadrant. A stone dam is upstream. The mill complex has the cohesiveness and integrity of a potential historic district. Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes

Photos and Videos: Bairs Mill Bridge

Available Photo Galleries and Videos

Click on a thumbnail or gallery name below to visit that particular photo gallery. If videos are available, click on a video name to view and/or download that particular video.

 

	Bridge Photo-Documentation Original / Full Size Photos	A collection of overview and detail photos. For the best visual immersion and full detail, or for use as a desktop background, this gallery presents the photos for this bridge in the original digital camera resolution.
	Bridge Photo-Documentation Mobile Optimized Gallery	A collection of overview and detail photos. View the photos for this bridge in a reduced size which is useful for mobile/smartphone users, modem (dial-up) users, or those who do not wish to wait for the longer download times of the full-size photos. Alternatively, view this photo gallery using a popup slideshow viewer (great for mobile users) by clicking the link below. Browse Gallery With Popup Viewer
	Eastbound Crossing of the Bridge Full Motion Video	Streaming video of the bridge. Also includes a higher quality downloadable video for greater clarity or offline viewing.

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