Jerusalem Road Bridge

Most Recent Visit To Bridge: July 1, 2006

Key Facts

Bridge Name	Type	Road	Location	City	Crossing
Jerusalem Road Bridge	Truss	Jerusalem Road	Crawford County, PA	Rural	Stone Run

Technical Facts

Construction Date	Rehabilitation Date	Structure Length	Deck Width	Builder
1884	c. 1990	68 Feet	13 Feet	Morse Bridge Company of Youngstown, Ohio

This rather old bridge is a five panel full slope Pratt pony truss bridge, and was built by the Morse Bridge Company. Like other bridges the company built such as Michigan's Six Mile Creek Road Bridge, this pony truss features the unusual pin connection nuts present. Some of these nuts on the Jerusalem Road Bridge have been replaced, but others still remain on the bridge. These nuts were an interesting design, but they appear to be cast iron or something otherwise brittle, as they seem prone to breaking (see again, the Six Mile Creek Road Bridge), which probably accounts for them being replaced on the Jerusalem Road Bridge.

There were pink marker flags around this bridge. While it appeared that the phone company was doing some work, pink flags can also be a sign that a bridge replacement is going to occur. Knowing Pennsylvania, I wouldn't be surprised to see this bridge end up in the dumpster.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The 1884, pin connected, single span, 68'-long, Pratt pony truss bridge is supported on ashlar abutments. The traditionally composed trusses have metal rod diagonals and hip verticals, built up upper chords and verticals, and eye bar diagonals. The beam guiderails were added ca. 1990. Crawford County is rich in pin connected, metal truss bridges. A total of 35 ranging in date from 1870 through the early 20th century remain in the county. This bridge stands out as an early, complete, documented example of a pin connected Pratt pony truss bridge. Adding to its significance is its documentation to the Morse Bridge Company, a short-lived but prolific regional bridge fabricator. The bridge is historically and technologically significant.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a 1 lane of an unimproved road over a stream in a sparsely developed, wooded setting with widely scattered residences, mostly modular homes from the late 20th century. The area does not have historic district potential.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes