Morris Road Bridge

Most Recent Visit To Bridge: July 1, 2006

Key Facts

Bridge Name	Type	Road	Location	City	Crossing
Morris Road Bridge	Truss	Morris Road	Crawford County, PA	Rural	Railroad (Erie RR)

Technical Facts

Construction Date	Structure Length	Main Span Length	Approach Spans	Approach Span Lengths	Deck Width
1935	160 Feet	88 Feet	2	32 and 36 Feet	26 Feet

The Pennsylvania Historic Bridge Inventory thinks that this bridge is common technology, and has no distinctive details. Perhaps they didn't even look at the bridge. It may be simple if you lable it a 1935 Warren Pony truss with riveted connections, which is indeed what the bridge is, and if you leave the description at that, it is a rather basic bridge. However, take a look at this bridge and you will see it is anything but ordinary. For one thing, the end posts are vertical, giving the bridge the unusual rectangular appearance. Also, the built up members and chords are made of unusual plate-like designs, similar although not as totally plate-like as this rail bridge in Michigan. The Morris Road Bridge is unlike any bridge I have seen before. The bridge retains original pole railings. A wooden deck is present on the bridge. The bridge is supported on concrete abutments and piers.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The 1935, skewed, 3 span, 160'-long bridge has an 88' long riveted Warren with verticals pony truss main span and deck girder approach spans (1 @ 32', 1 @ 36') supported on concrete abutments and battered concrete columns. The heavy trusses have no innovative or distinctive details. The bridge is an example of a common technology used in the state since ca. 1890. Fourteen riveted Warren pony truss bridges dating from 1897 remain in northwest Pennsylvania. Earlier examples better represent the type and design in the state and region. This bridge is not historically or technologically significant, and the railroad is not significant in the Pennsylvania context.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a 2 lane unimproved road over a single Conrail (formerly the Erie Railroad) track in a sparsely developed, wooded setting that does not have historic district potential. A second track has been removed.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No