Amy Road Bridge

Final Visit To Bridge: July 1, 2006

This historic bridge was demolished.

Key Facts

Bridge Name	Type	Road	Location	City	Crossing
Amy Road Bridge	Truss	Amy Road	Crawford County, PA	Rural	Gravel Run

Technical Facts

Construction Date	Rehabilitation Date	Structure Length	Deck Width
c. 1895	1902	43 Feet	16 Feet

This is a very small three panel pin connected half-hip Pratt pony truss. It features a wooden deck. original railings remain on only one side of the bridge. An i-beam was added to one side of the deck, supposedly to add strength and support for the bridge. Usually these beams are put on both sides though. I am unsure why they were placed only on one side.

The historic bridge inventory as usual, thinks that small 19th century pony trusses are not historic. I of course, disagree completely. While they are right in that truss bridges with distinctive details are more significant, a bridge like this, a classic and otherwise "common" pony truss does in fact represent the development of the truss bridge. After all, the bridges that are "common" represent the results of the development, a gradual standardization of bridge design.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The ca. 1895, pin connected, single span, 43'-long, Pratt pony truss bridge is supported on concrete filled, built up caissons. The traditionally composed trusses have no innovative or distinctive details. The upper chords and end posts are built up, the lower chords and diagonals are eye bars to facilitate the pinned field connections, and the verticals are laced angles. The fabricator and construction date are not documented in available records. The bridge is one of several nearly identical ca. 1895 pony truss bridges in the county. Sixteen pin connected Pratt pony truss bridges remain in the county with the earliest dating to 1889. It is the early examples and those with distinctive details that represent the significance and development of the technology. This bridge is not historically or technologically significant.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries 1 lane of an unimproved road over a stream in a sparsely developed, wooded setting.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No