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Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
| Dean Road Bridge | Truss | Dean Road (Liodean Road) | Venango County, PA | Rural | Little Sandy Creek |
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Technical Facts |
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Construction Date |
Rehabilitation Date |
Structure Length | Deck Width |
| c. 1895 | 1975 | 56 Feet | 14 Feet |
This bridge is a half-hip Pratt pony truss. It features pinned connections and four panels. The deck surface is currently metal grate. This bridge has one of the most bizarre modifications I have seen. The bottom chord connections are encased in concrete! This apparently was a cheap way to deal with the deterioration that frequently occurs in those areas. It isn't historically sensitive, nor does it look all that nice. On the other hand, the bridge still retains its overall general appearance, and as such, I think maintaining and preserving this bridge is still a worthy endeavor.
The Historic Bridge Inventory listed this as Bombish Road, although it is actually on Dean Road. Bombish Road is a dead end road that branches off of Dean Road north of the bridge. As long as I am on the subject, I will point out that Dean Road shows up on some maps as Liodean Road and others as Dean Creek Road. Someone needs to pick a name and stick with it!
Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge InventoryDiscussion of Bridge The ca. 1895, pin connected, single span, 56'-long, Pratt pony truss bridge is supported on ashlar abutments with wingwalls. In 1975 the lower panel points and bearings were encased in concrete, making the connections rigid in nature. The bridge is an altered example of a common type and design, and it is not historically or technologically significant. Pin connected truss bridges are common in Venango County. Sixteen examples ranging in date from 1880 to 1904 remain. Discussion of Surrounding Area The bridge carries 1 lane of a road over a stream in a rural area of undistinguished farms that does not have historic district potential. Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No |
