| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| Maust Bridge Moser Road Bridge |
Moser Road Over Casselman River | Rural: Somerset County, Pennsylvania | Metal Pinned Pratt Through Truss, Stationary | Groton Bridge Company of Groton, New York (Walker Brothers of Charleston, West Virginia, Contractor) |
| Technical Facts |
| Structure Length | Roadway Width | Bridge Width | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 130 Feet (39.6 Meters) | 10 Feet (3.1 Meters) | 12 Feet (3.65 Meters) | 1 | None |
Visit the Milford Bridge for more discussion about the Walker Brothers and their weird 1900 bridges. The Moser Road Bridge has a plaque that is identical to the late Hickory Bridge's plaque, except for the detail around the date part of the plaque. It is unclear what (if any) business relation the Groton Bridge Company and the Walker Brothers might have had. The Historic Bridge Inventory is likely incorrect in saying that the bridge was fabricated by Walker Brothers. They likely never looked on the back of the plaque. Groton was notorious for using both sides of their plaques... not a very proud company apparently, as their name usually appeared on the back side. Groton was a bridge fabricator. It is more likely that Walker was the contractor that erected the bridge.
This bridge is a highly attractive bridge on account of its impressive, tall appearance and ornate builder plaque. It is also a heavenly journey for anyone interested in unusual truss bridge details. The configuration of the bottom chord and its connections is quite bizarre and unique. A large photo gallery is available for this bridge showing these details. Be sure to check them out!
Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge InventoryDiscussion of Bridge The 8 panel, pin-connected, Pratt thru truss is supported on ashlar abutments with concrete capped flared wingwalls. The trusses are traditionally composed, but some uncommon details include the use of punched plate rather than eye bars for the lower chords and loop forged connections for the hip floor beam hangers and lower sway bracing. The bridge was fabricated by the Walker Brothers of Charleston, WVa in 1900, well after the standardization of the bridge type. It is historically and technologically significant as a complete example of a non-standard design pin connected truss bridge. Discussion of Surrounding Area The bridge carries 1 lane of an unimproved township road over the Casselman River in a rural area of active farms. The approach roadways are sharply curved, particularly on the north approach. Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes |
