Historic Truss finds new service life in Coudersport, PA September 6, 2011 By David J. Johnson, PE (Structural-Bridge)
Posted in Bridge Design | Communities | Municipal Services | Project Management | Structural Engineering | Sustainable Design | Transportation

On July 12, 2011, a historic truss was set in its new location at 4th Street over the Allegheny River in Coudersport. The truss had spent the past 127 years three blocks upstream at 7th Street, carrying traffic to the Borough’s northeast corner and recreation park facilities. The historic bridge will now continue its service life as a pedestrian bridge at its new location.

The 7th Street Bridge was built in 1883 by the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, OH. The bridge is unique because it is one of the first bridges to be built entirely of steel and to still be in service. The bridge was retrofitted in 1983 with the addition of the steel arches. The decision to replace the bridge was made by the borough because it was functionally obsolete. The bridge was a one lane bridge that lacked adequate vertical clearance, proper barriers, or a sidewalk to provide access for pedestrians using the park.

> Read the rest of this article

Comments (1) | Permalink | Tags: Allegheny River, bridge, Clevelenad, Coudersport, historic, King Bridge Company, L.C. Whitford, NY, OH, PA, pedestrian bridge, PennDOT, reuse, truss, Wellsville