Mountville Road Bridge

Most Recent Visit To Bridge: July 3, 2006

This bridge proves that as late as 1940, bridge design in Pennsylvania was still something respectable, and produced bridges that were not only functional, but had aesthetic value as well. This bridge also proves that the larger, newer massive-member truss bridges can still blend in well in a wooded environment. Even with massive members, the bridge still has a delicate appearance to it, and its complex network of trusses compliments the branches of the many trees around it. The mottled paint/rust on the bridge may not be good for the structure, but it also helps the bridge blend in. Someone should develop a paint that produces a similar mottled pattern, so a bridge can be repainted but still have the camouflage on!

There is a memorial plaque near this bridge that says that two firefighters died while on-route to a call for help. I hope the bridge was not to blame, as PennDOT would likely use that as a reason to demolish the bridge. Sometimes truss bridges are blamed for having sharp, and supposedly unsafe curved alignments. However in Pennsylvania, in my opinion the bridge is the least of anyone's worry, since the road itself is a curvy adventure. Being a Michigan thumb area resident, accustomed to straight grid roads that you can see ahead on for miles, I do pity any emergency vehicle that has to drive at speed down these roads in Pennsylvania., not knowing what's around the next bend. In that regard, firefighters really have it easy in Michigan.