Cambridge Springs Bridge

Visit Disappearing Bridge's Page For This Historic Bridge

This Bridge is in Danger!

This bridge is unusual because it is a large truss bridge with slightly massive members, but is pin connected. The more common method is riveted connections on bridges like this. The truss configuration is unusual, as a Pennsylvania truss style. This bridge forms a beautiful centerpiece for the town, and should be considered the main attraction in town.

US-6/19 has a number of truss bridges, some of which were not considered historic because they were examples of "common technology." This is an absurd way to think of any old truss bridge. The technology may have been common back in the 1920s, but it is not today. To find a truss bridge built today is very rare indeed, and modern truss bridges have no v-lacing or lattice guardrails. These bridges may be plentiful in Pennsylvania now, but at the rate they are being destroyed they will be rare soon. Why do we always have to wait until only a couple bridges are left before deciding they are historic? Too often quantity is used to determine historic significance. Instead we should look at whether the construction methods are being used today. We should also look and see if the bridge tells us what life was like back in a past period of time. If we found thousands of giant Egyptian pyramids instead of the amount we did, would we not consider them historic? Would we rip them down if they were in the way? I seriously doubt it. We should treat these bridges the same. US-6/19 has enough truss bridges on it that all truss bridges should be preserved, and the highway could be declared the Historic Bridge Parkway. But I am sure that will never happen. These are nothing but the ravings of an insane bridge-lover.