![]() ![]() They tried appealing to their state lawmakers, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, “anyone who’d listen,” Christianson said. The other, which crosses over the Tulpehocken Creek on Reilly Road, was restored by Lebanon County last year.Ĭhristianson and his son Joel began their quest to save their bridge more than a decade ago. Of the two remaining 19th century stone arch bridges in Lebanon County, one (also spanning the Quittapahilla Creek) is slated for demolition. The bridge is one of fewer than a dozen pre-1900 stone arch bridges left in the Harrisburg region, according to the BridgeHunter database. This has the potential to create conflict between vehicles that approach the structure at the same time.” The structure is a one-lane bridge with two traffic lanes on either approach. “In addition, there are design issues with the bridge. “The current structure was in poor structural condition,” said PennDOT regional spokesman David Thompson. PennDOT said the bridge’s width (19 feet) and lack of modern engineering safety features poses a risk to motorists in the roughly 700 vehicles that cross it each day. In the case of the Syner Road bridge, inspection reports show a 30-year decline in the condition of the bridge rating. The bridges are subject to damage from vehicle accidents, flooding and soil erosion that can cause deterioration over time. May 25, 2022.īut most of the stone bridges are found in bucolic, rural settings, where narrow back roads lead down to meandering creeks that flow through graceful arches often not even visible to motorists. The bridge spans the Quittaphilla Creek in Lebanon County. Built in 1697, it is believed to be the oldest roadway bridge in the country and still carries 15,000 vehicles a day over Pennypack Creek.Ī nearly 150-year-old stone masonry arch bridge on Syner Road, at the border of North Londonderry and North Annville townships, is being replaced by PennDOT. The largest concentration of stone arch bridges are located in the southeastern Pennsylvania, among them the Frankford Avenue bridge in Philadelphia. Those that were demolished were in poor condition or were deemed too narrow to accommodate school buses, farm equipment or emergency vehicles, PennDOT says. Today 363 stone arch bridges remain, according to PennDOT, but two decades ago there were close to 500 statewide. ![]() ![]() Pennsylvania has a rich history of stone arch bridges, the oldest surviving one dates to the 17th century, shortly after William Penn received the land grants from King Charles II to establish the colony. “I have no idea why they are tearing it down,” said Christianson. Through the decades the family enjoyed fishing and frolicking in the bubbling creek below their home. Over the years, four generations of Christiansons woke up each morning to picture postcard views of the bridge adjacent to their Syner Road property. PennDOT contractors were beginning to demolish the triple arch bridge, built around 1880 to carry horses and buggies over the Quittapahilla Creek. George Christianson stood on the lawn of the bucolic property in Annville he bought 60 years ago and watched a backhoe rip apart the sycamore trees alongside the old stone arch bridge. A nearly 150-year-old stone masonry arch bridge on Syner Road, at the border of North Londonderry and North Annville townships, is being replaced by PennDOT. George Christianson had land (now owned by his son) adjacent to the bridge, and has tried to get PennDOT to preserve the bridge rather than replace it. Now, it’s time to find better ways to interact with you and ensure we meet your high standards of what a credible media organization should be. The days of journalism’s one-way street of simply producing stories for the public have long been over. ![]()
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