Bishop Road Bridge
NBI Information
Location
State: Pennsylvania
County: Cumberland County
Feature Carried: Bishop Road (T-612)
Feature Crossed: Yellow Breeches Creek
Latitude, Longitude: 40.1589,-76.9768
Toll: On free road
Maintenance Responsibility: County Highway Agency
Structure Open, Posted, or Closed to Traffic: Bridge closed to all traffic
History
Year Built: 1898
Historical Significance: Bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Year Reconstructed: None
Date Closed: July 22, 2021
Picture Date: November 19, 2023
Geometry
Lanes on Structure: 1
Lanes under Structure: 0
Skew: 0 degrees
Number of Main Spans: 1
Main Structure Type: Truss - Thru
Main Structure Material: Aluminum, Wrought Iron, or Cast Iron
Number of Approach Spans: 0
Approach Structure Type: None
Approach Structure Material: None
Condition
Inspection Date: October 2021
Deck Condition: Satisfactory
Superstructure Condition: Critical
Substructure Condition: Serious
Channel Condition: Fair
Culvert: Not Applicable
NBI Year: 2023
Bridge Information
The Bishop Road Bridge is a closed and seemingly abandoned bridge in Pennsylvania. It was originally built in 1898 and is a pin-connected Pratt Through Truss.
This bridge is an excellent example of the last standard truss design that the Wrought Iron Bridge Company used before it was bought out by the American Bridge Company in 1900. The distinctive features include a-frame portal bracing with attractive builder plaques on the top. In addition, the vertical members are built-up members with v-lacing that is oriented so that it faces the roadway. This bridge is also noteworthy because the design does not have any alterations.
The bridge was closed in 2014 after key bridge components deteriorated, and reopened in 2015 after short-term repairs were made. In 2018 the Board of Commissioners for York and Cumberland Counties voted to close the bridge if significant repairs were necessary in the future. The bridge was permanently closed to traffic on July 22, 2021 after a routine inspection found ongoing and significant structural damage.
References
Historic Bridges: https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=pennsylvania/bishoproad/
Penn Live: https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/07/bridge-connecting-central-pa-counties-permanently-closes-after-123-years.html
