Cold Spring Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Cold Spring Bridge
|
|
Cold Spring Bridge, October 2012
|
|
 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 2nd Street over Spring Creek, Whitehall Township and North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1930 |
| Built by | Dawes & Norris |
| Architectural style | Open-spandrel arch |
| MPS | Highway Bridges Owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000874 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1988 |
The Cold Spring Bridge was a special concrete bridge in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It connected Whitehall Township and North Whitehall Township. This bridge was known for its unique design and its history.
What is the Cold Spring Bridge?
The Cold Spring Bridge was a type of bridge called an open-spandrel arch bridge. This means it had a big arch underneath, and the parts that held the road up were open, not solid. It was made of strong concrete.
It was built in 1930 and stretched about 228 feet (69 meters) long. The main arch itself was 160 feet (49 meters) long. The bridge crossed over a waterway called Spring Creek.
Building a Historic Bridge
The Cold Spring Bridge was built by a company named Dawes & Norris. It was an important part of the local roads for many years. Because of its special design and age, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This list includes places in the United States that are important to history.
Why Bridges Get Replaced
Over time, even strong bridges can get old and worn out. The Cold Spring Bridge carried about 2,461 vehicles every day. By 2014, it was decided that the bridge needed to be replaced to keep everyone safe.
It was replaced with a new, modern bridge. This new bridge has a different design, called a "three span bulb T-beam bridge." Replacing the old bridge cost about $3.8 million.
-
Demolition of the Cold Spring Bridge in 2014
