Milburn Road Bridge

Final Visit To Bridge: July 1, 2006

This historic bridge was demolished in 2007.

Key Facts

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

Technical Facts

Construction Date	Structure Length	Deck Width	Builder
c. 1880	80 Feet	12 Feet	Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio

The only thing that Pennsylvania and Preservation have in common is the same first letter.

The fact that the Mercer County's Quaker Bridge has been saved is contrary to the normal for both Mercer County and Pennsylvania in general. The planned destruction of this beautiful example of the Wrought Iron Bridge Company's work is more reflective of the current bridge program in Pennsylvania. This is a short through truss, at five panels and 80 feet. Original railings do not remain on the bridge, and two sets of ugly modern railings were added. These ugly railings could however be removed as part of a restoration. A restoration of a bridge this size would likely cost less than replacement, and would allow it to continue to carry light vehicular traffic. The portal's knee bracing and at least part of the main section of portal bracing was replaced at the west end. If the estimated construction date for this bridge is accurate, than this is an extremely important bridge. Historic significance does not save bridges from the dumpster in Pennsylvania however.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The ca. 1880, pin connected, single span, 80'-long, Pratt thru truss bridge is supported on ashlar abutments with flared wingwalls. The bridge has a number of distinctive details associated with the builder, the Wrought Iron Bridge Company, including diagonals with four-prong ends and cast guide blocks at the hip panels. The bridge is historically and technologically significant as a complete, early example of a pin connected, metal truss bridge. Adding to the significance is its association with the Wrought Iron Bridge Company, a prominent fabricator of metal truss bridges.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a one lane road over a stream in a rural and wooded, with scattered, predominantly late, 20th century houses.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes

Information From www.mercercotrussbridges.com Demolition Mitigation Website

The Pratt Through Truss bridge has a number of distinctive details associated with the builder, the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, including cast guide blocks at the lower chords of the hip panels. This bridge is slated to be removed.

The Wrought Iron Bridge Company was organized in 1866 and incorporated in 1871 by David Hammond, a carpenter-turned-bridge builder. The company “immediately took its place in the forefront of the country’s bridge builders,” manufacturing and distributing an impressive variety of metal bridges, including bowstring trusses and an assortment of single and multiple intersection trusses, girder, and swing bridges, most from patented designs. Its 1874 Designs of Wrought Iron Bridges contained articles on the strength, durability, resistance to corrosion, and working loads for iron bridges. The company, with agents spread across the nation, built bridges throughout the continental United States. By 1880, it had purportedly built more highway bridges than any other bridge company in the country. A large company with a capacity of approximately 10,000 tons per year, it was absorbed into the American Bridge Company in 1901.