The History of Headquarters Road Bridge

Headquarters Road Bridge, also known as Burnt Mill Bridge, was constructed in 1812 as a stone-pillar bridge. The Headquarters Road Bridge has stood for over 200 years, and one of two standing pier to pier stone bridge in Pennsylvania, and one of the last in the United States. It has been closed since 2011, and PennDOT wants to tear it down and replace it with a large, obtrusive two-lane bridge, devastating the landscape and erasing over 200 years of history from the cultural landscape of the Tinicum Creek. This bridge can be restored and continue to serve its community if done properly. The Headquarters Road Bridge is a contributing resource to the Ridge Valley Rural Historic District listed on the Register of National Historic Places.

The below video details the bridge history and the current condition of the bridge, which, in summary, in need of some repair and maintenance, and the deck needs to be replaced, however the historic stone pillars and substructure is intact and safe for traffic use once repairs are complete.

Geographic Location of Headquarters Road Bridge