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Camp Road Bridge

Camp Road Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth and Rick McOmber

Bridge Documented: May 30, 2010

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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
Camp Road (PA-1021) Over East Branch Perkiomen Creek
Location
Rural: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: United States
Structure Type
Stone Semicircular Deck Arch, Fixed
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1858 By Builder/Contractor: James White
Rehabilitation Date
Not Available or Not Applicable
Main Span Length
30.0 Feet (9.1 Meters)
Structure Length
146.0 Feet (44.5 Meters)
Roadway Width
21 Feet (6.4 Meters)
Spans
5 Main Span(s)
Inventory Number
46102100200000

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
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Bridge Documentation

This bridge no longer exists!

Bridge Status: Demolished and replaced.

View Archived National Bridge Inventory Report - Has Additional Details and Evaluation

This bridge is a truly ancient structure with an 1858 construction date. Unfortunately, the years have not been kind to this bridge. The bridge has been seriously altered by the addition of concrete to the bridge. The concrete was not even added very tastefully, and the square-shaped sections of concrete have a very negative effect on this bridge. Worse, much of the parapet railing on one side is missing and has been replaced with ugly modern Armco style guardrail. The bridge also has deteriorated considerably and is now closed to traffic with deterioration on the bridge evident. Given these circumstances it probably isn't surprising that the bridge is slated for demolition and that the bridge was not even considered historic by the Historic Bridge Inventory. However, despite these alterations and deterioration, one must still question whether it is wise to cast aside a bridge that is as old as 1858 as not historic. Because the bridge isn't considered historic, nobody is obligated to preserve any part of the bridge. If the bridge were considered historic, and Section 106 took place, perhaps mitigation could be developed that would at least salvage the stone from the bridge and reuse it somehow, perhaps reincorporating it into a replacement bridge. However since the bridge isn't even considered historic, it is doubtful that this type of mitigation would take place.

The bridge was repaired and/or altered in 1916, 1932, and ca 1985.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Stone Arch Bridge Management Plan

This bridge is not recommended for long-term preservation. It is one of the lowest ranked of the stone arch bridges under study in this plan, and it is on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for replacement. It ranks low or very low in five categories -- condition, transportation, waterway adequacy, rehabilitation cost, and values. Its low condition code results from advanced scour (including missing foundation stones) and cracks and loose stones in the superstructure; the bridge is posted for 13 tons. The bridge’s narrow width is not sufficient for current traffic, and the waterway opening is inadequate. For a stone arch bridge, an inadequate waterway is a difficult problem to fix. The primary structural component, the arch barrel, also defines the waterway opening. The bridge would have to be rebuilt to enlarge the waterway opening. The cost to rehabilitate the structure’s historic fabric and form is high, because the parapets are not original and the spandrel walls and arch barrels have been gunited. The bridge is not listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places individually or as part of a historic district. Although there has been public support for this bridge (two questionnaires, one letter, one telephone call, and two petitions), the structural and traffic issues are too great to recommend the bridge for preservation.

Recommendation: Not recommended for long-term preservation.

Assessment:

The Franconia, Camp Road Bridge is owned by PennDOT and is ranked 114th.
Condition Code = 33 very low
Transportation Code = 38 very low
Waterway Adequacy Code = 40 low
Cost to Rehabilitate or Replace Code = 30 very low
Anticipated Development Code = 58  high
Recreational, Historical, and Cultural Values Code = 40 low
Public Input Code = 60 very high

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No

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Photo Galleries and Videos: Camp Road Bridge

 

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Maps and Links: Camp Road Bridge

This historic bridge has been demolished. This map is shown for reference purposes only.

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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