Craig Road Bridge

Most Recent Visit To Bridge: July 1, 2006

Key Facts

Bridge Name	Type	Road	Location	City	Crossing
Craig Road Bridge	Truss	Craig Road	Crawford County, PA	Rural	Woodcock Creek

Technical Facts

Construction Date	Structure Length	Deck Width	Builder
1896	80 Feet	16 Feet	Youngstown Bridge Company of Youngstown, Ohio

This is a five-panel pin connected Pratt through truss. It features v-lacing on the verticals and sway bracing. The portal bracing is a lattice design. Original lattice railings remain on the bridge. The bridge retains a high degree of historic integrity, as I noted no major modifications to the bridge. This bridge is one of a number of Youngstown Bridge Company bridges that remained in Pennsylvania when I visited in 2006. The company must have had a good relationship with this area for whatever reason.

There is no cantilevered sidewalk or handsome railing as the inventory mentions. I think they got this bridge mixed up with the Center Street Bridge, since their description is nearly identical to the description of that bridge, which was also built by the same company.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The 1896, pin connected, single span, 80'-long, Pratt thru truss bridge is supported on ashlar abutments. Fabricated by the Youngstown Bridge Co., the bridge stands as a remarkably complete example of its type and design with its decorative cresting and handsome cast and wrought iron railing at the cantilevered sidewalk. The trusses themselves are traditionally composed, but the lattice filled portal brace and knee braces with radiation pattern fill are characteristic of the fabricator. The bridge stands out in a rich collection of metal truss bridges in Crawford County, and it is historically and technologically significant.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries 1 lane of a 2 lane road over a stream south of the borough of Saegertown. The area does not have historic district potential. Approximately one-half mile to the north is the county poor farm complex. The original building dates to ca. 1875, and many later buildings have been added. The complex was greatly expanded in 1970s and 1980s. The bridge is not contiguous to the complex or related to its function. South of the bridge is wooded and rural.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes