Historic Bridge Website Calls Local Span One of Most 'Endangered'

A well-traveled Lower Saucon Township stone arch bridge that was built in 1858 has been named to a historic preservation website's list of U.S. bridges that are, in its opinion, the most endangered and worthy of saving.

BridgeHunter.com announced Feb. 13 that the four-span Meadows Road bridge across the Saucon Creek, just south of Hellertown, was a winner of one of this year's TRUSS awards.

"The bridge is a rarity, even in a state with an abundance of stone arches," a press release about the award stated. "It's not exactly like we can find four-span antebellum stone arch bridges around every corner. Thankfully, local officials do consider the bridge to be an historic landmark, agreeing to install a historic marker next to the bridge in 2008 and listing the bridge as a historic site on the township website."

The Meadows Road bridge was nominated for the award by a local resident, Stephanie Brown, BridgeHunter.com said.

In her nomination of the span, Brown said, "With the cooperation of all interested parties, including Northampton County, Lower Saucon Township and the Saucon Valley Conservancy, this structure can be around for many more generations to enjoy, and serve a useful purpose both in the modern world as a usable structure and a connection to the past."

As a result of its location in a highly flood-prone area, the county-owned bridge has been submerged during many storms, resulting in periodic calls for its replacement.

Just last year, and before it was flooded during Hurricane Irene, the Meadows Road bridge was one of several in the Hellertown area to be rated as "structurally deficient."

Significantly, "the sufficiency rating was a respectable 48.6 in 2008 but then dropped to 23.9 in 2010," according to the press release from BridgeHunter.com about the TRUSS award. "Repairs made by Northampton County...have allowed the bridge (to) continue carrying traffic, but the repairs made over the years have detracted from the bridge."