Landenberg Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Landenberg Bridge is a truss bridge
carrying Landenberg Road across the White Clay Creek
in Landenberg, Pennsylvania
.
The bridge was originally built by the Schuylkill Bridge Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
in 1899, using the stone abutments from an earlier (1871) bridge. The 1899 bridge was a Pratt pony truss design, with an unusual cantilever
ed sidewalk along the north side of the bridge.
Because of its architectural features, the Landenberg Bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1988. However, a PennDOT inspection in the summer of 1999 found that the bridge had undergone serious structural deterioration, and it has been closed to traffic since. Due to local opposition to widening the bridge, replacement did not begin until 2009, after a compromise was reached to reuse elements of the old bridge in the replacement span. Replacement of the bridge is now underway. The bridge was removed from the National Register of Historic Places on March 23, 2010. The new span, which is a simple concrete beam bridge, incorporated the original span's green trusses for aesthetic purposes and reopened to traffic on July 25, 2010.
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
carrying Landenberg Road across the White Clay Creek
White Clay Creek
White Clay Creek is an tributary of the Christina River in southern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware in the United States. It is renowned for its scenic character and is largely federally protected....
in Landenberg, Pennsylvania
Landenberg, Pennsylvania
Landenberg is an unincorporated community in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is, essentially, a post office address that covers parts of New Garden, London Britain and Franklin Townships. The White Clay Creek bisects Landenberg. Landenberg falls into two school districts:...
.
The bridge was originally built by the Schuylkill Bridge Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. The population is 16,440 as of the 2010 Census.- History :...
in 1899, using the stone abutments from an earlier (1871) bridge. The 1899 bridge was a Pratt pony truss design, with an unusual cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
ed sidewalk along the north side of the bridge.
Because of its architectural features, the Landenberg Bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1988. However, a PennDOT inspection in the summer of 1999 found that the bridge had undergone serious structural deterioration, and it has been closed to traffic since. Due to local opposition to widening the bridge, replacement did not begin until 2009, after a compromise was reached to reuse elements of the old bridge in the replacement span. Replacement of the bridge is now underway. The bridge was removed from the National Register of Historic Places on March 23, 2010. The new span, which is a simple concrete beam bridge, incorporated the original span's green trusses for aesthetic purposes and reopened to traffic on July 25, 2010.