Cambridge Road Bridge

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The 3 span, 55'-long bridge built in 1910 consists of an approximately 43'-long steel thru girder span flanked by 6'-long stone arch overflow spans. The bridge is supported on a stone substructure. Fieldstone wingwalls with parapets enclose the approach roadways. Incorporated with the wingwalls are the short stone arch overflow spans. In 1971, the thru girder span was altered by the addition of welded rolled floorbeams spaced between the original riveted rolled floorbeams. At the same time, the previous concrete deck was replaced by an open steel grid deck. Thru girder bridges are a very common bridge type in widespread use from the late 19th century through the mid 20th century. This altered example has no technologically unusual or noteworthy features, and incorporates details, such as the stone arch overflow spans and wingwalls, that are very typical of bridges designed by Chester County Engineer Nathan R. Rambo from 1899 to 1922. The bridge is not significant in the state context, and more complete prototypical examples have been chosen to represent the bridge type's significance in the county context. The bridge is not historically significant in association with its setting.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a 2 lane road over a stream in a rural setting of active farms and mixed 19th to late-20th-century residences approximately 1/2 mile east of the crossroads village of Cambridge. The setting does not have the cohesiveness or integrity of a potential historic district, although there are some individual properties with possible individual historic significance including a mid 19th century stone mill building (inoperable) at the bridge's northwest quadrant. The other bridge quadrants are wooded or open fields.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No