Existing comment:
The bridge here is located near the bottom of Incline No 6, a 267-rise in elevation. A sign here says:
Skew Arch Bridge
The Skew Arch Bridge was completed in 1834 to carry travelers on the Huntingdon, Cambria & Indiana Turnpike over the portage railroad. The road also accommodated wagons, horses, and livestock. The railroad closed in 1854, but the road bridge remained in service until 1922.
Builders "skewed" the angle of the bridge to allow the road to cross Incline No 6 without making an awkward bend. Today, the bridge with its interwoven diagonal planes and pleasing lines stands as a superb example of stone masonry design and craftsmanship.
Another sign:
The Skew Arch Bridge
This may be the only skewed masonry bridge remaining in the United States. Built in 1932-34 to carry a wagon road over the tracks of Incline No 6, it was constructed on a skewed, or twisted, angle. The road and the railroad could then cross, with each maintaining their straight path up the slope.
Notice that the arch ramps are not at right angles with the face of the bridge. The bridge abutments are also offset and not directly across from each other. See how the stones were cut and laid in a diagonal direction.
The bridge has withstood the elements for over one hundred and fifty years and is well preserved. Its fine architecture stands in tribute to the skills of the engineers and stone masons who built it. |