Stone Bridge (Johnstown, Pennsylvania)

Stone Bridge
Stone Bridge
Coordinates	40.3325°N 78.9249°W / 40.3325; -78.9249 (Stone Bridge (Johnstown, Pennsylvania))
Carries	railroad traffic
Crosses	Conemaugh River
Locale	Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA
Official name	Conemaugh River Viaduct
Characteristics
Design	arch bridge
Material	Stone
Total length	428 feet (130 m)
Width	four tracks
Longest span	58 feet (18 m)
No. of spans	7
Piers in water	4
History
Construction start	1887
Construction end	1888
Location

The Stone Bridge spans the Conemaugh River in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The bridge is a seven-arch stone railroad bridge located on the Norfolk Southern mainline, built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1887-88. Its upstream face was reinforced with concrete in 1929. This bridge survived the Johnstown Flood of 1889, but the bridge blocked debris, which subsequently caught fire and created an inferno covering 30 acres (120,000 m²). The bridge is visible from Point Park in downtown Johnstown.

The Stone Bridge Project

The Stone Bridge, located on the edge of Johnstown’s downtown, is an arched bridge built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1887. On May 31, 1889, its seven arches blocked tons of debris carried by the waters of the Johnstown Flood, but the bridge itself withstood the flood’s impact. Tragically, an enormous fire broke out at the bridge, killing scores of people trapped in the flood debris. The fire would burn for three days.

Today, the bridge is a Johnstown landmark, and is still an active railroad bridge with three tracks. Owned by Norfolk Southern Railroad, the bridge is located along Route 56, the most heavily-traveled road in the region. It is highly visible from Route 56, downtown, JAHA’s newly-established Festival Park, and the restaurant and visitors center above the city at the Inclined Plane. However, the bridge is in need of restoration; the stone façade has long since been covered with concrete when an additional track was added to the bridge, and the bridge’s general appearance is poor.

A committee of community leaders is leading an effort to restore the stone bridge, including cleaning for physical and aesthetic improvements. The concrete on the southern side of the bridge will be resurfaced. The bridge will also be lit using energy-efficient LED lighting that can be adjusted to different colors and intensities. The project has been estimated at $1.2 million, and is being announced as part of 2008 flood commemorative activities.

"The significance of the Stone Bridge is that it stood its ground against the flood waters and altered the future of Johnstown completely and forever. It created the backdrop for the event that put Johnstown on the map,” said Michael Brosig, co-chair of the Stone Bridge Committee. “Restoring the South facade of that structure and casting LED lighting on it will certainly showcase the triumph of the human spirit in a spectacular style for all to see, enjoy and be proud of their heritage. Based on its strategic location, it is the lynchpin of the historic district of our city."

Consultants on the bridge restoration project include Shadowstone Inc. of Hackensack, N.J., for the lighting. Shadowstone has been involved in a variety of high-profile lighting projects, including such Washington, D.C. projects as the White House and Pentagon briefing rooms; the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament; a special event at the Brooklyn Bridge; and many others. For the bridge restoration and rehabilitation, the group is working with Pawlowski & Haman Architects, P.C. and H.F. Lenz Co., both of Johnstown.

References

Johnstown Area Heritage Association

External links

• Johnstown Area Heritage Association Photographs