Category: PennDOT (Page 2 of 7)

Fourteen small pieces of painted ceramics. — Fragments of historic ceramics from Millerstown 1.

The Archaeology of a Village Blacksmith Shop

June 8, 2022 / Justin McKeel / 2 Comments

In 1823, a blacksmith named John W. Miller moved into what is now southeastern Blair County with his wife, Mary, and their three-year-old son, James. In their first years there they built their house and a small blacksmith shop along an existing road between Bedford and Rebecca Furnace. They didn’t have neighbors in those early years, but that wouldn’t last long.

Metal truss bridge over stone and grass. — Inwood Iron Bridge in its new location in Swatara State Park. Photograph by Veronica Martin, PennDOT, 2021.

Bridge Preservation and Education: A Site Visit to the Inwood Iron Bridge

April 27, 2022 / Guest Contributor / 2 Comments

In 2019, the historic Inwood Iron Bridge in Union Township, Lebanon County was disassembled for relocation.

Concrete bridge over stream. — Centreville Road bridge, Upper Leacock Township, Lancaster County.

Pennsylvania’s Reinforced Concrete Thru Girder Bridges

March 16, 2022 / Tyra Guyton / 0 Comments

Few people think of history when crossing a bridge. But bridges tell an important story about engineering and technology, especially in Pennsylvania where the early years of iron, steel and concrete came together to produce many early bridges that represent an age of experimentation.

Bridge for Sale Spotlight: Burnt Mill Road Bridge

December 15, 2021 / Barbara Frederick / 3 Comments

A drive along Burnt Mill Road in Lurgan Township in Franklin County winds around scenic county farmland crossing the Conodoguinet Creek where a monument to Pennsylvania’s industrial past, the Burnt Mill Road Bridge, has stood for the past 136 years.

Messerall Road Bridge, PennDOT Messerall Bridge Lift Photos, Photo by Chris Wolfgong, August 10, 2021.

Precious Metal Preservation: the Lift

October 27, 2021 / Guest Contributor / 6 Comments

Nestled amongst the oak-covered hills of rural northwest Pennsylvania until very recently sat an iron artifact from a bygone era. Built in 1876 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, this elegant, metal arch structure is what is termed, in historical bridge parlance, as a bowstring through-truss.

Originally owned and maintained by Crawford County, it has gone by numerous names over the years, including East Titusville Bridge, Pine Creek Bridge and, more recently, Messerall Road Bridge. Whatever name it goes by, it is now more commonly known for being the last of its kind in western Pennsylvania.

Mott Street Bridge after rehabilitation was complete, taken from the Milford side looking toward the National Park Service land to the southwest. Source: Kris Thompson, PennDOT.

Rehabilitated Mott Street Bridge Reconnects Milford and the Delaware River National Recreation Area

June 2, 2021 / Guest Contributor / 1 Comment

Driving along East Harford Street in Milford, a compact borough in Pike County nestled between National Historic Landmark Grey Towers and National Park Service’s Delaware River National Recreational Area, it is easy to miss Mott Street.

Mosaic panel detail with signature plaque (Ricketts 2018).

Virgil Cantini: Saving Cantini’s Mosaics

March 3, 2021 / Guest Contributor / 1 Comment

Last week’s blog post introduced the life and work of artist Virgil Cantini and highlighted the vulnerable position of postwar public art objects and installations, which often require special expertise to understand and articulate their significance for preservation.

This week’s post recounts part of the struggle to save one of Cantini’s largest works of public art, which came dangerously close to disappearing forever.