Mercer Pike Bridge

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Key Facts

Bridge Name	Type	Road	Location	City	Crossing
Mercer Pike Bridge	Truss	Mercer Pike	Crawford County, PA	Rural	Conneaut Outlet

Technical Facts

Construction Date	Rehabilitation Dates	Structure Length	Deck Width	Builder
1888	1938, 1944	83 Feet	17 Feet	Unknown (M.B.C. stamped on portal)

This bridge is a very beautiful truss bridge, and is one of the less common type of truss bridge in which the v-lacing of the bridge faces the road, rather than the ends of the bridge. What is most unusual about this bridge is the portal bracing. Solid pieces of curved steel mounted below a simple lattice beam create the portal bracing. The plates of steel have interesting designs on them, and they way they were mounted, they are not the same from left to right on each portal brace. On each end, the left hand side is an ornate design of some sort that just looks cool. The right hand side is the big mystery, as it appears to be a logo with a "C," "M," and a "B" on top of each other. I assume they are the initials for the builder, but who can be sure? It is a mystery to me, and I would be glad if someone would contact me and clear up the mystery.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The single-span, 83'-long and 17' wide, pin-connected, Pratt through truss bridge built in 1888 is supported on concrete abutments that were reportedly rebuilt in 1938 and 1944. The solid web portal braces has an "MBC" cypher in them, but research failed to identify the name of the fabricator. The floor beams have been replaced, and there are minor repairs to the truss members, but otherwise the bridge appears to be complete and a historically and technologically significant example of the important technology. The fabricator may be identified at some point.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a single-lane road over the Conneaut Outlet Creek, also locally called the Geneva Marsh in a waterfowl management area. The creek drains the manmade Conneaut Lake, a major water feature of the area, into French Creek. The Lake was created as a public works project in 1932 when the Conneaut Marsh was dammed. The bridge at the inlet to the lake (BMS no. 20001901100000) has been determined by PHMC as not eligible.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes