Leesburg Station Road Bridge

Most Recent Visit To Bridge: July 1, 2006

Key Facts

Bridge Name	Type	Road	Location	City	Crossing
Leesburg Station Road Bridge	Truss	Leesburg Station Road	Mercer County, PA	Rural	Neshannock Creek

Technical Facts

Construction Date	Rehabilitation Date	Structure Length	Deck Width
1927	1990	95 Feet	17 Feet

In terms of a construction date vs deck width (deck width is generally wider on newer bridges) this bridge is as strange as Ohl Street, and exhibits the exact opposite characteristic. For a bridge with a 1927 construction date, 17 feet is very narrow. The bridge even looks strange, to see such a narrow bridge with such massive trusses. This historic bridge inventory complains that this bridge was moved in 1990, and says that other examples of this bridge type are in the state. I would be curious to see if they are all this narrow however. I am curious why this bridge was built so narrow. The narrow design of the bridge makes it look cool, and fun to drive across. The subdivided Warren trusses are rivet connected, with large gusset plates. There is v-lacing on the diagonals. Lattice under the top chord and end posts.

The inventory spelled the bridge's former location as Loweville, PA, although the only one I could find in the whole state was spelled Lowville and was indeed in Erie County. I assume it was a typo that Mercer County also picked up. If the bridge indeed was from Lowville, it is likely it originally crossed West Branch French Creek.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The Leesburg Road Bridge, a steel, riveted, 5 panel pony truss structure, is supported on concrete abutments with flared wingwalls placed in 1990, as was the new concrete deck. The bridge was moved to its present location in 1990. The bridge is recommended as not eligible, due to its movement from another site, the alterations to the substructure, and the relatively common nature of the Warren pony truss. Other examples of the bridge type can be found in the state population.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a single lane of a state road over Neshannock Creek in a sparsely developed, rural area with scattered 20th century residences. The bridge was moved to its present location in 1990 from Loweville in Erie County.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No

Information From www.mercercotrussbridges.com Demolition Mitigation Website

The bridge was moved to its present location in 1990 from Loweville in Erie County. It is a standard-design, riveted Warren Truss bridge with a concrete deck.