Tractor-Trailer Smashes Historic Chesco Covered Bridge

 

May 1, 2014 East Pikeland, PA - On Tuesday a 13 foot high truck passed through the Rapps Dam bridge's 10 foot high opening causing major damage to the bridge. Pieces of the bridge, including the dedication plaque, were stuck in the tractor-trailer among the potted plants it was carrying. The truck driver, on his way to make a delivery in New Jersy, had only been on the job for a short time.

At this point the bridge is closed pending damage assessment. Town Manager Kimberly Moretti described the bridge as being "...broken...as matchsticks" and calls damage "heartbreaking".

Rapps Bridge (38-15-14) was built in 1866 and crosses French Creek. The bridge went through a reconstruction in 1978. In 2011 the state spent $1.5 million to upgrade the bridge. See the article written in our Past News Notes from 2011 which covered the opening of the bridge on November 18, 2011.

The following web link contains the full story from the Philadelphia Inquirer website: Tractor-trailer smashes historic Chesco covered bridge.