Portersville Road Bridge

Most Recent Visit To Bridge: July 3, 2006

Key Facts

Bridge Name	Type	Road	Location	City	Crossing
Portersville Road Bridge	Truss	Portersville Road	Lawrence County, PA	Ellport	Slippery Rock Creek

Technical Facts

Construction Date	Rehabilitation Date	Structure Length	Deck Width
1932	1984	310 Feet	25 Feet

There used to be another truss bridge fairly near to this bridge, on the same road, but it was demolished and replaced before I got here, unfortunately. I am unsure why this bridge has been spared from the dumpster. Knowing PennDOT it is likely only because they have not yet secured the money. Once they get them money, I am sure they will eagerly demolish this bridge, rather than use the money to restore the bridge. This bridge is a heavily skewed bridge. V-lacing is only present on the bracing, and lattice is only under the top chord. Pennsylvania had a wide variety of "standard plan" metal truss bridges, and this design appears to be the last of the through truss designs, and it is perhaps the least exciting, with the exception that they often have heavy, and easily noticeable skews. Despite that, the bridge is still a stunning structure, and I would die to have one of these bridges in Michigan, which has none. Pennsylvania does not realize how lucky they are to have these bridges beatifying their roads.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The skewed, two-span, 310'-long, riveted Pratt thru truss bridge built in 1932 is supported on an ashlar substructure with concrete caps. The upper chords and end posts are built up box sections, and the diagonal members are rolled section. Lower chords are toe in channels with stay plates. The cantilevered sidewalk is finished with a metal lattice railing. Safety shape barriers were placed inside the truss lines in 1984. The bridge has no distinctive or innovative details, and neither it nor its setting are historically or technologically significant.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a two-lane road and a sidewalk over a stream in a sparsely developed, rural area with post-World War II houses on both sides of the bridge.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No