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Wehr Covered Bridge facts for kids

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Wehr Covered Bridge
Wehr Covered Bridge, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.png
Wehr Covered Bridge, September 2012
Wehr Covered Bridge is located in Pennsylvania
Wehr Covered Bridge
Location in Pennsylvania
Wehr Covered Bridge is located in the United States
Wehr Covered Bridge
Location in the United States
Location West of Greenawald on Township 597, South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania
Area 0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built 1841
Architectural style Burr truss
MPS Covered Bridges of the Delaware River Watershed TR
NRHP reference No. 80003561
Added to NRHP December 1, 1980

The Wehr Covered Bridge is a special old wooden bridge in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. It's in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. This bridge is famous because it's a "covered bridge." This means it has a roof and sides, just like a house.

The Wehr Covered Bridge was built a long time ago in 1841. It crosses over the Jordan Creek. People love to visit this bridge because it's a cool piece of history.

What is the Wehr Covered Bridge?

The Wehr Covered Bridge is 117-foot-long (36 m). That's about the length of three school buses! It has three sections, which makes it quite strong. The bridge was built using a special design called a Burr Truss. This design uses strong wooden arches to help support the bridge.

The outside of the bridge has horizontal siding. It also has a gable roof, which is a common roof shape. This roof protects the wooden parts of the bridge from rain and snow. This helps the bridge last for a very long time.

Why is the Bridge Important?

The Wehr Covered Bridge is very important to history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This list includes places that are special because of their history or design. Being on this list helps protect the bridge for future generations.

What Happened in 2014?

In July 2014, something unusual happened. A very heavy truck tried to cross the bridge. The bridge was closed for a few days after this. Workers needed to check if the bridge was still safe.

Luckily, the bridge was not badly damaged. But, officials decided to make it safer. They changed the weight limit for vehicles. Before, vehicles up to 20,000 pounds (9,000 kg) could cross. Now, only vehicles up to 8,000 pounds (4,000 kg) are allowed. This helps keep the old bridge safe for everyone.

Images for kids

  • Wehr Covered Bridge (2)

    A view of the bridge from the side.

  • Wehr Covered Bridge - Pennsylvania (8483516173)

    Looking through the bridge.

  • Wehr Covered Bridge - Pennsylvania (8484611410)

    The bridge in its natural setting.

  • Wehr Covered Bridge - Pennsylvania (8484607410)

    Another view of the bridge.

  • Wehr Covered Bridge (3)

    The entrance to the covered bridge.

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