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Juniata
County, Pennsylvania
(WGN
38-34-01) (WGCB PA-34-01) (1870; restored 2009) A two-span Burr arch truss 278' 6.5" over Tuscarora Creek. Located: Just to the
right of Mill Hill Road (TR 334), southeast of Academia between Beale and Spruce Hill Townships, Pennsylvania. Directions: Approximately 4 miles
south of Port Royal on SR 75 south, at the jct. with SR 3013, follow SR 3013 for 1.9 miles to Mill Hill Road (TR 334). Turn right on Mill Hill Road (TR
334) and go 0.1 mile. The bridge is just to the right. There are three documented dates for the original construction date of the bridge. 1870 in
the Statewide Covered Bridge Assessment, 1901 in the World Guide to Covered Bridges, and 1902 in Zacher’s book, The Covered Bridges of
Pennsylvania. It is one of the longest covered bridges still standing in Pennsylvania. The length also varies - the Statewide Covered Bridge
Assessment and Zacher's book indicate its length is 270 feet, and the World Guide to Covered Bridges list 305 feet. The bridge was rehabilitated in
2009 shortly after engineers determined that the bridge was in danger of collapsing. Some of the repairs consisted of new vertical board and
batten boarding on the sides and portals, fire retardant chemicals, interior lighting, and surveillance cameras. Each of the two Burr arches rest on
the abutments at each end and on the pier in the center. It is covered with unpainted, random-width, vertical boards on the sides, there is board
and batten siding on the portals. The deck is covered with narrow, crosswise planking, and it has a metal roof. The structure rests on stone and
mortar abutments and a central stone and mortar pier. It also has stone and mortar wing walls and parapets. In addition to the lengthwise
openings under the eaves, there is one window on each side of the bridge directly above the center pier. Also known as the Pomeroy Covered
Bridge. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 1979. (Sep 2006) on August 10, 1979. (Sep 2006) |
