Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Wills Creek Bollman Bridge

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Crosses
  
Scratch Hill Road

Opened
  
1871

Area
  
1,214 m²

Location
  
Meyersdale

Design
  
truss bridge

Total length
  
25 m

Width
  
4 m

Bridge type
  
Truss bridge

Wills Creek Bollman Bridge bridgehuntercomphotos1555155552Mjpg

Carries
  
Allegheny Highlands section of Great Allegheny Passage

Locale
  
Meyersdale, Pennsylvania

Similar
  
Bollman Truss Railroad, Salisbury Viaduct, Governor's Bridge, Truss arch bridge, Vierendeel bridge

The Wills Creek Bollman Bridge originally served the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Pittsburgh Division main line.

Designed by the self-taught engineer Wendel Bollman in 1871, this truss bridge is the last remaining span of the Pittsburgh Division line associated with Bollman. Around 1910 it was moved from Wills Creek to a location 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania (39.8183°N 78.9947°W / 39.8183; -78.9947) after it was no longer able to safely carry heavier modern locomotives. It served as a vehicular bridge crossing CSX tracks on Summit Township Road 381. The bridge was again relocated in 2007 east of Meyersdale at Scratch Hill Road, Summit Township, on the Allegheny Highlands section of the Great Allegheny Passage.

Though it was designed by Wendell Bollman, it does not employ his famous Bollman truss, but rather a Warren truss. It is 81 feet (25 m) long and 13 feet (4.0 m) wide. The east abutments are constructed of concrete, while the west are earthen with wood ties. This bridge has a wood deck, and ornate cast iron end pieces, lacework, and compression members. End posts and tension members are constructed of wrought iron.

The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 8, 1978.

References

Wills Creek Bollman Bridge Wikipedia