Somerset County has 1,081 sq. miles of pure wonders, together with the Allegheny Mountains and Mount Davis, the best level in Pennsylvania. The county additionally has acres of fertile farmland, thick forests and quite a few lakes, rivers, streams and creeks.
Man-made wonders akin to reservoirs, railway tunnels and bridges had been additionally constructed right here in order that the county’s residents and companies may produce and transport items and other people throughout the rolling hills, rivers and streams.
Summer season break:Tractor reveals, anniversaries and music: Listed here are the summer time occasions happening round Somerset
One method to expertise each the pure and man-made fantastic thing about Somerset County is to take a self-guided tour of the ten lined bridges nonetheless in use across the county.
These lined bridges had been constructed within the mid to late nineteenth century and had been designed to assist carriages loaded with quite a lot of masses and / or folks and transport them from one place to a different, normally crossing a river or stream. . Wooden was usually used to construct the bridges as a result of it was essentially the most accessible native materials, and the outside and roof had been added to guard the structural elements of the bridge from the climate.
Six of the ten lined bridges in Somerset County are owned and maintained by the county, mentioned Brad Zearfoss, planning director for the Somerset County Planning Fee. 4 bridges are privately owned however are nonetheless accessible to the general public.
“The lined bridges are an vital a part of our native transport historical past,” Zearfoss mentioned. “All of Somerset County’s bridges are listed within the Nationwide Register of Historic Websites.
“As well as, the lined bridges stay a purposeful a part of our native transportation infrastructure – offering automobiles and non-motorized entry for residents and guests.”
All six of the county-owned lined bridges are open to each day automobile site visitors, though top and weight restrictions are set at every bridge. The 4 privately owned bridges are by bridges solely.
Many of those lined bridges are additionally distant areas, so be ready to drive some bumpy two-lane roads, share the highway with different automobiles or presumably an Amish horse and buggy, and use some detective reasoning alongside the best way.
Serving to younger folks:The Youngsters’s Support Society of Somerset launches a $ 5 million present marketing campaign
The beautiful surroundings and distinctive design of those lined bridges make a sightseeing journey fashionable with guests to Somerset County, in response to Acacia Svonavec, Advertising and Communications Director of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce.
A lined bridge map and a information produced by the Chamber of Commerce are additionally accessible. It offers GPS coordinates, a map and detailed instructions to seek out every of the lined bridges, in addition to ideas for different native locations to go to.
Enterprise information:New salon, Depraved Types, opens in Somerset
Zearfoss mentioned Somerset County is dedicated to making sure that its lined bridges proceed to serve the county’s each day transportation wants for years to return.
“The county conducts common inspections of all of its 60-plus bridges, together with the lined bridges,” he mentioned. “Coated bridges are very sturdy. The county-owned lined bridges are greater than 100 years previous.
“However, the price of constructing a contemporary bridge to interchange a lined bridge can simply attain $ 1 million and take years to permit and assemble.”
This is a have a look at the ten lined bridges in Somerset County.
Barronvale Bridge
This bridge is positioned off Ream Street and State Freeway 653, 5 miles northwest of New Lexington. It’s the longest lined bridge in Somerset County, at simply over 162 toes and about 13 toes large. It was inbuilt 1830 and crosses over Laurel Hill Creek. This bridge is privately owned however is accessible to the general public to stroll by.
Burkholder Bridge
This bridge is positioned on Burkholder Bridge Street, 2 miles north of Garrett on Route 219 North. It’s 52 toes lengthy and 12 toes large. It was inbuilt 1870 and crosses Buffalo Creek. This county-owned bridge is open to automobile site visitors with a headroom of 8 toes and a weight restrict of three tons.
Glessner bro
This bridge is positioned about 4 miles south of Route 30 close to Shanksville and alongside State Route 1007 or Lambertsville Street. It measures 90 toes lengthy and 12 toes large. The bridge was inbuilt 1881 and crosses the Stonycreek River. Autos can drive over this county-owned bridge, which is stationed with a 9-foot, 9-inch floor clearance and 3-ton weight restrict.
Kongebroen
This bridge is positioned on State Route 653, or Scullton Street, about 3 miles west of New Lexington. It’s virtually straight reverse Ream Street the place the journey goes to Barronvale Bridge. King’s Bridge is 127 toes lengthy, about 12 toes large, and crosses over Laurel Hill Creek. An indication on the bridge says it was inbuilt 1802 after which rebuilt in 1906 and in 2008. King’s Bridge might be the oldest remaining lined bridge in Somerset County. It’s privately owned and open to by site visitors. There’s additionally a big automobile park and a picnic space.
Decrease Humbert Bridge
This bridge is positioned on State Route 3007, or Humbert Street, a couple of mile north of the junction with Route 281 close to the village of Ursina. This bridge is about 126 toes lengthy, about 12 toes large, and crosses over Laurel Hill Creek. The bridge was inbuilt 1891 and rehabilitated in 1991. This county-owned bridge is open to automobile site visitors with a headroom of 8 toes and a weight restrict of three tons.
The brand new Baltimore Bridge
This bridge is positioned off Route 1013 or Deeter Hole Street and Route 1015 within the village of New Baltimore. This bridge is about 86 toes lengthy, 12 toes large, and it crosses the Raystown department of the Juniata River. It was inbuilt 1879, destroyed in a flood in 1996 after which rebuilt and reopened to site visitors in 1998. Automobile top and weight restrictions apply to driving over this county-owned construction. A state bridge alternative challenge is underway on this space this summer time, so guests ought to observe the posted detour indicators to seek out this lined bridge.
Pak Sadelbro
This bridge is positioned close to the intersection of Pine Valley Street and Route 2019, or Glen Savage Street, not removed from the village of Fairhope. It’s the shortest lined bridge in Somerset County, measuring solely 48 toes lengthy and 14 toes large. This county-owned bridge crosses Brush Creek, and its environment are distinctive to the waterfall that cascades alongside one aspect of the bridge. The bridge was inbuilt 1870, rehabilitated in 1950 and was additionally broken by floods in 1996. The county had the bridge restored and it was reopened in 1998. Autos which might be underneath 9 toes, 11-inch top restrict and three ton weight restrict can run over this bridge.
Shaffer Bridge
That is the county’s northernmost lined bridge, and it is positioned alongside Route 985, or Somerset Pike, about 2 miles north of the village of Thomas Mills. The bridge is 68 toes lengthy and about 13 toes large. It was inbuilt 1877 and crosses Bens Creek. This county-owned bridge is scheduled to be rehabilitated this summer time, so automobile site visitors could also be restricted as work progresses. A 7-foot ridge and 3-ton weight restrict are specified.
Trostletown Bridge
This lined bridge is positioned on North Membership Street, close to the intersections of Route 30 West, also called Lincoln Freeway, and Routes 403 and 281 close to Stoystown. An indication on the lined bridge says it was inbuilt 1873 after which restored in 1965 and 1993 by the Stoystown Lions Membership. The bridge is 104 toes lengthy and about 12 toes large. The bridge continues to be in its unique location, however it’s now a part of the American Legion Park, a neighborhood park that additionally contains an previous navy helicopter and tank, the previous Stoystown railroad depot, and a one-room schoolhouse. The bridge is privately owned and is barely open for pedestrian site visitors.
Walters Møllebro
This lined bridge is positioned on the grounds of Somerset Historic Heart, 10649 Somerset Pike in Somerset. It’s about 60 toes lengthy, 12 toes large and was inbuilt 1859. Within the Nineteen Sixties, the bridge was moved from its unique location throughout Coxes Creek to a residence in Somerset to put it aside from demolition. The bridge was then moved to the Somerset Historic Heart within the mid-Seventies. In 1986, the bridge was restored, and it reopened in 1987. This bridge is owned by the Somerset Historic Heart and is barely open to pedestrian site visitors.
Further sources: The Coated Bridges of Somerset County Map and Information, a tourism brochure produced by the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce; Historic Bridges of Somerset County Pennsylvania, a publication written by Scott D. Heberling and produced in 2010 by Heberling Associates, Inc., for the Pennsylvania Division of Transportation and the Federal Freeway Administration; Pennsylvania’s Coated Bridges: A Full Information. Authors: Benjamin D. Evans and June R. Evans, 1993, College of Pittsburgh Press.