The historic steel truss bridge spanning Wangum Falls in Paupack Township, has been listed by a private, statewide preservation group as being at risk of being lost.
The 105-year old bridge is scheduled to be replaced by PennDOT, within the next four years.
Township Road 367, Wangum Road, crosses the bridge about 25 feet over the very scenic Middle Creek, where the waters tumble over rocks in a forested glen, on private property.
On Monday, Preservation Pennsylvania, based in Harrisburg, issued a list of endangered historic resources they are highlighting this year. The state’s shrinking number of metal truss bridges topped the list, including the Wangum Falls span.
Wangum Falls is about four miles northwest of Hawley, on Wangum Road off the Owego Turnpike. It was built in 1903 and is held together by rivets, which Horn stated was significant in terms of Pennsylvania’s industrial legacy. This was about the time that steel truss bridges were being constructed with rivets rather than pins, a technological advancement. The span is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, she said.
Between 1850 and 1885, loaded coal cars would cross the Middle Creek at this point, on the way to the waiting D&H canal boats at Hawley. Wangum Road is the old rail bed for the Pennsylvania Coal Company Gravity Railroad.
A report issued by the Pa. Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) brings attention to the geologic monocline structure where the falls cascade, as perhaps unique to northeastern Pennsylvania.
Influence future decisions
Jennifer Horn, Program Director, said that the purpose of the list is to raise public awareness of what is happening to our heritage, in hopes of influencing future decisions towards preservation.
In 1996, Pennsylvania had a population of 328 National Register eligible metal truss bridges. In July 2008, Governor Edward G. Rendell signed into law legislation authorizing an investment of $350 million in bond funds to accelerate the repair, replacement and rehabilitation of structurally deficient bridges.
The Rebuild Pennsylvania Initiative: Accelerated Bridge Program will allow the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to complete 411 bridge projects this year. Over the next three years, the funding increase will underwrite bridge projects Included on the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). By end of 2008, Pennsylvania's population of trusses will have decreased to 237 bridges. By 2012. If replacement projections are accurate, Pennsylvania will have only 184 metal truss bridges out of an original historic population of thousands, warns Mindy Crawford, Executive Director of Preservation Pennsylvania.
Context sensitive design
It was first placed on PennDOT’s 12-year transportation program in 2002, and in the report issued last month, the project was on the first four years.
The bridge is owned by the County of Wayne. In 2004, the consulting firm Alfred Benesch & Co. was selected for the bridge replacement. The County Planning Commission indicated the project will require a “context sensitive design approach” due to its unique geographic location over Wangum Falls.
Bidding has not yet been let. According to the State Transportation Commission, the estimated project cost is $1,400,000.
The bridge is rated as structurally deficient by PennDOT within the range calling for replacement funds rather than refurbishment.
The 2008 Pennsylvania At Risk list is released In partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Committee (www.phmc.state.pa.us). Preservation Pennsylvania is a statewide, not-for-profit, educational and advocacy historic preservation organization and serves as a statewide voice on historic preservation issues. For more Information. Visit the website at www.preservationpa.org.
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The historic steel truss bridge spanning Wangum Falls in Paupack Township, has been listed by a private, statewide preservation group as being at risk of being lost.
The 105-year old bridge is scheduled to be replaced by PennDOT, within the next four years.
Township Road 367, Wangum Road, crosses the bridge about 25 feet over the very scenic Middle Creek, where the waters tumble over rocks in a forested glen, on private property.
On Monday, Preservation Pennsylvania, based in Harrisburg, issued a list of endangered historic resources they are highlighting this year. The state’s shrinking number of metal truss bridges topped the list, including the Wangum Falls span.
Wangum Falls is about four miles northwest of Hawley, on Wangum Road off the Owego Turnpike. It was built in 1903 and is held together by rivets, which Horn stated was significant in terms of Pennsylvania’s industrial legacy. This was about the time that steel truss bridges were being constructed with rivets rather than pins, a technological advancement. The span is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, she said.
Between 1850 and 1885, loaded coal cars would cross the Middle Creek at this point, on the way to the waiting D&H canal boats at Hawley. Wangum Road is the old rail bed for the Pennsylvania Coal Company Gravity Railroad.
A report issued by the Pa. Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) brings attention to the geologic monocline structure where the falls cascade, as perhaps unique to northeastern Pennsylvania.
Influence future decisions
Jennifer Horn, Program Director, said that the purpose of the list is to raise public awareness of what is happening to our heritage, in hopes of influencing future decisions towards preservation.
In 1996, Pennsylvania had a population of 328 National Register eligible metal truss bridges. In July 2008, Governor Edward G. Rendell signed into law legislation authorizing an investment of $350 million in bond funds to accelerate the repair, replacement and rehabilitation of structurally deficient bridges.
The Rebuild Pennsylvania Initiative: Accelerated Bridge Program will allow the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to complete 411 bridge projects this year. Over the next three years, the funding increase will underwrite bridge projects Included on the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). By end of 2008, Pennsylvania's population of trusses will have decreased to 237 bridges. By 2012. If replacement projections are accurate, Pennsylvania will have only 184 metal truss bridges out of an original historic population of thousands, warns Mindy Crawford, Executive Director of Preservation Pennsylvania.
Context sensitive design
It was first placed on PennDOT’s 12-year transportation program in 2002, and in the report issued last month, the project was on the first four years.
The bridge is owned by the County of Wayne. In 2004, the consulting firm Alfred Benesch & Co. was selected for the bridge replacement. The County Planning Commission indicated the project will require a “context sensitive design approach” due to its unique geographic location over Wangum Falls.
Bidding has not yet been let. According to the State Transportation Commission, the estimated project cost is $1,400,000.
The bridge is rated as structurally deficient by PennDOT within the range calling for replacement funds rather than refurbishment.
The 2008 Pennsylvania At Risk list is released In partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Committee (www.phmc.state.pa.us). Preservation Pennsylvania is a statewide, not-for-profit, educational and advocacy historic preservation organization and serves as a statewide voice on historic preservation issues. For more Information. Visit the website at www.preservationpa.org.
