| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| Reading Mines Bridge | Reading Mine Road Over Beaver Dam Creek | Rural: Somerset County, Pennsylvania | Stone Deck Arch, Stationary | 1914 By: Unknown |
| Technical Facts |
| Structure Length | Roadway Width | Bridge Width | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 40 Feet (12.2 Meters) | 13.5 Feet (4.1 Meters) | 19 Feet (5.8 Meters) | 1 | None |
This bridge is one of a number of remaining stone arch bridges in Somerset County. The Historic Bridge Inventory singled this bridge out to be considered non-historic. However it is worth noting they did this only because older examples remain. On its own, this bridge is really just as interesting as the other bridges, although it does perhaps have a slightly less impressive arch span. It does have nice and tall stone parapets (railings) that are attractively capped off with stone slabs.
Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge InventoryDiscussion of Bridge The 40'-long and 19' wide stone arch bridge built ca. 1914 is laid up in rusticated ashlar. The corresponding parapets step down over the flared wingwalls. The bridge retains its original masonry pattern and crisp mortar joints, and it appears to be complete. It is, however, the newest of the seven nearly identical stone arch bridges dating from ca. 1905 to ca. 1915 in the county. It is the early and complete examples that are significant. This bridge, a late example of its technology, is not historically or technologically significant. The bridge is identical to 55101000600000 that was built in 1914. Discussion of Surrounding Area The bridge carries 1 lane of an unimproved township road over a stream in a rural area of scattered early-20th century residences and active farms north of the village of Reading Mines. Just north of the bridge is the T intersection with TR 647. To the west of the bridge is an undistinguished early-20th century farm. Other residences in the area are heavily altered. The area lacks the concentration of resources to be a potential historic district. Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No |
