Conneauttee Road Bridge

Most Recent Visit To Bridge: July 1, 2006

Key Facts

Bridge Name	Type	Road	Location	City	Crossing
Conneauttee Road Bridge	Truss	Conneauttee Road	Erie County, PA	Rural	Little Conneauttee Creek

Technical Facts

Construction Date	Rehabilitation Date	Structure Length	Deck Width
1914	1980	55 Feet	17 Feet

Here is a scene that looks like Michigan. A metal truss bridge closed to traffic, forgotton, and slowly falling into the river. All it needs is to be covered in rust and vines and it would look like Michigan's Cole Road Bridge. Both the Cole Road Bridge and this bridge are doing the same thing. The abutment has failed at one corner, and that corner of the truss is falling, and twisting the structure of the bridge as it does so. The part that is falling on the Conneauttee Road Bridge is the northeast part of the truss.

Knowing Pennsylvania, I would say the future for this bridge is rather bleak. They don't even preserve 1880s through trusses in serviceable condition, let alone a 1910s pony truss falling into the river. It is rather unfortunate, since this is a nice looking bridge.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The 1914, riveted, single span, 55'-long, Warren with verticals pony truss bridge is supported on concrete abutments with wingwalls. The bridge was modified in 1988 with the addition of welded steel angles to the lower chords at the end panels and the welding of supplemental steel angles at the connection between the floorbeams and verticals. The bridge, an altered and undistinguished example of a common technology, has no innovative or distinctive details. Riveted Warren truss bridges were used with great frequency since the 1890s. Earlier examples better represent the design in the state and district. This bridge is not historically or technologically significant.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries one lane of a two-lane unimproved road over Little Conneauttee Creek in a rural area of active farms.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No