View Information About HSR Ratings
This bridge is an excellent example of a state standard plan through truss bridge in Pennsylvania, as well as a good example of a standard highway plate girder span. The bridge has three through truss spans and one through plate girder approach span. The bridge retains excellent historic integrity, including all original railings. Very minor repairs/alterations were observed such as a plate bolted to a vertical member, but none diminish the overall design and materials of the bridge.
PennDOT has been trying to get this bridge demolished and replaced with an ugly slab of concrete. Fortunately, the funding was canceled and so the project may be delayed for a few years at most. Perhaps instead, PennDOT should consider the less costly and preservation-promoting alternative of rehabilitating this bridge for continued vehicular use. Structurally, there is nothing major wrong with this bridge at all, and it could certainly be rehabilitated for far less than the cost of replacement.
Standard plan truss bridges such as this have been all been discarded by the Historic Bridge Inventory as not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. However, despite some rehabilitation projects, many of these bridges are also being demolished, and they are becoming less common. Larger examples, such as this multi-span bridge at Cementon stand out as more noteworthy than smaller examples. Regardless of their National Register eligibility, these bridges do have heritage value and a great deal of aesthetic value as well. They are sturdy bridges with decent deck width. Their rehabilitation and preservation is generally less than the cost of replacement, and promotes the preservation of Commonwealth heritage and beauty. They should not be demolished.
Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge InventoryDiscussion of Bridge The 4-span, 575'-long bridge consists of 3 identical Pratt thru truss spans and one built-up thru girder span, all supported on a concrete substructure. A sidewalk is cantilevered from one side of the bridge. Constructed in 1933 by the state highway department, the rivet-connected truss is a large but relatively late example of the truss technology that was developed in the late-19th century and was used with great frequency through the first 3 decades of the 20th century. The bridge is not historically or technologically significant. The bridge was built after the period of significance of the Lehigh Canal Historic District and is thus not a contributing resource to it. Discussion of Surrounding Area The Cementon bridge carries a 2 lane street and a sidewalk over the Lehigh River and a filled-in section of the Lehigh Canal between Cementon and the Borough of Northampton. The towns are comprised of mixed 20th century structures of residential, commercial and industrial use. The areas of town contiguous to the bridge do not appear to have historic district potential. The Lehigh Canal Historic District, listed 12/17/1979, is the right-of-way of the old Lehigh Canal along the river's north bank. The district has a period of significance from 1840 to 1931, the active years of the canal. Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Initially, No, But Inventory Lists As Eligible in 2001 |
This bridge is tagged with the following special condition(s): Unorganized Photos
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.
Additional Maps:
Google Streetview (If Available)
GeoHack (Additional Links and Coordinates)
Apple Maps (Via DuckDuckGo Search)
Apple Maps (Apple devices only)
Android: Open Location In Your Map or GPS App
Flickr Gallery (Find Nearby Photos)
Wikimedia Commons (Find Nearby Photos)
Directions Via Sygic For Android
Directions Via Sygic For iOS and Android Dolphin Browser
USGS National Map (United States Only)
Historical USGS Topo Maps (United States Only)
Historic Aerials (United States Only)
CalTopo Maps (United States Only)
© Copyright 2003-2024, HistoricBridges.org. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: HistoricBridges.org is a volunteer group of private citizens. HistoricBridges.org is NOT a government agency, does not represent or work with any governmental agencies, nor is it in any way associated with any government agency or any non-profit organization. While we strive for accuracy in our factual content, HistoricBridges.org offers no guarantee of accuracy. Information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Information could include technical inaccuracies or errors of omission. Opinions and commentary are the opinions of the respective HistoricBridges.org member who made them and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone else, including any outside photographers whose images may appear on the page in which the commentary appears. HistoricBridges.org does not bear any responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of this or any other HistoricBridges.org information. Owners and users of bridges have the responsibility of correctly following all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, regardless of any HistoricBridges.org information.
