Wills Creek Bollman Bridge

Wills Creek Bollman Bridge

Wills Creek Bollman Bridge, pictured at former location
Coordinates 39°49′06″N 78°59′41″W / 39.81833°N 78.99472°W / 39.81833; -78.99472Coordinates: 39°49′06″N 78°59′41″W / 39.81833°N 78.99472°W / 39.81833; -78.99472
Carries Allegheny Highlands section of Great Allegheny Passage
Crosses Scratch Hill Road
Locale Meyersdale, Pennsylvania
Characteristics
Design truss bridge
Total length 81 feet (25 m)
Width 13 feet (4.0 m)
History
Opened 1871

The Wills Creek Bollman Bridge originally served the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Pittsburgh Division main line.

Designed by the self-taught engineer Wendel Bollman in 1871, this truss bridge is the last remaining span of the Pittsburgh Division line associated with Bollman. Around 1910 it was moved from Wills Creek to a location 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania (39°49′06″N 78°59′41″W / 39.8183°N 78.9947°W / 39.8183; -78.9947) after it was no longer able to safely carry heavier modern locomotives. It served as a vehicular bridge crossing CSX tracks on Summit Township Road 381.[1] The bridge was again relocated in 2007 east of Meyersdale at Scratch Hill Road, Summit Township, on the Allegheny Highlands section of the Great Allegheny Passage.[2]

Though it was designed by Wendell Bollman, it does not employ his famous Bollman truss, but rather a Warren truss. It is 81 feet (25 m) long and 13 feet (4.0 m) wide. The east abutments are constructed of concrete, while the west are earthen with wood ties. This bridge has a wood deck, and ornate cast iron end pieces, lacework, and compression members. End posts and tension members are constructed of wrought iron.

The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 8, 1978.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Scott C. "Wills Creek Bollman Bridge" (PDF). Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 1. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  2. ↑ "The Historic Bollman Bridge". Myersdale, PA. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  3. ↑ National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
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