Bridge in East Fallowfield Township (Mortonville, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
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Mortonville Bridge
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Mortonville Bridge being widened in 2009.
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Area | 2.1 acres (0.85 ha) |
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| Built | 1826 |
| Architectural style | Stone Arch |
| MPS | Strasburg Road TR;East Fallowfield Township MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002392 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 18, 1985 |
| Removed from NRHP | July 16, 2010 |
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Bridge in East Fallowfield Township
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Mill Race Bridge, with ruins of mill in background.
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| Location | Strasburg Rd. over Mill Race, Mortonville, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| MPS | Highway Bridges Owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000878 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1988 |
The Mortonville Bridge and Mill Race Bridge are two historic stone bridges in Mortonville, Pennsylvania. They carry Strasburg Road over the West Branch Brandywine Creek and an old mill waterway. These bridges are special because they were once listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical sites in the United States.
Discovering the Mortonville Bridges
The Mortonville Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 18, 1985. The Mill Race Bridge, also known as the Bridge in East Fallowfield Township, joined the list on June 22, 1988. However, the Mortonville Bridge was later removed from the list on July 16, 2010, after it was rebuilt. The Mill Race Bridge is still on the list today.
A Look Back in Time
The very first bridges in this spot were probably built around 1772. This was when Strasburg Road was first planned and constructed. A wooden bridge was built over the Brandywine Creek in 1789.
The Mill Race Bridge we see today was built around 1800. It has a single stone arch. The stone used to build it came from a local quarry nearby. This bridge crossed a channel that carried water to power a mill called Hayes Mill.
The larger Mortonville Bridge, with its four stone arches, replaced the old wooden bridge in 1826. It also used local stone. So, these bridges have been part of the landscape for a very long time!
Saving Our Historic Bridges
From the 1980s to 2002, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (often called PennDOT) wanted to replace both bridges. They planned to build one new, modern bridge instead. But many local people did not agree with this plan. They wanted to save the historic bridges.
Because of this strong local support, PennDOT decided to rebuild and make the Mortonville Bridge wider instead. In 2009, the bridge was closed for 10 months for this work. It was made 6 feet wider. The bridge was closed again in 2010. This time, it was to make the walls leading up to the bridge longer. This helped make the bridge safer and stronger for today's traffic.
