Pennsylvania boasts some notable accomplishments when it comes to bridges. With its 446 bridges, Pittsburgh has earned the title of The City of Bridges. It, in fact, has more bridges than any other city in the world. Across the state in Philadelphia, the Frankford Avenue Bridge has been crowned the oldest bridge in Pennsylvania and in the United States.
An historic stone bridge, Frankford Avenue Bridge was built at the request of William Penn and opened in 1697. For the first century of its existence, the bridge’s width spanned just 18 feet.
Wikipedia/Public Domain Frankford Avenue Bridge is also commonly known as Pennypack Creek Bridge and carries traffic on U.S. Route 13.
That width allowed horses and buggies to pass each other while on the bridge, but it was too narrow for trolleys.
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As a result, builders widened the bridge in 1893. With the introduction of cars to the road, the bridge that crosses over Pennypack Creek was again widened in 1950.
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Beginning in 1803, travelers had to pay a toll to cross over the stone bridge. That, however, ended in 1892, when the City of Philadelphia took control of that stretch of road.
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George Washington crossed the Frankford Avenue Bridge on his trek to New York. There, he was sworn in as President of the United States.
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Frankford Avenue Bridge is also said to have carried a messenger from Boston. He came to tell Pennsylvanians of the Battle of Lexington, which signaled the start of the American Revolution.
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Since the Frankford Avenue Bridge opened in 1697, approximately 60 other bridges in the Philadelphia area have either been abandoned or shut down, according to the American Society of Engineers.
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Have you walked or driven over the oldest bridge in Pennsylvania? Let us know in the comments! Pennsylvania’s also home to quite a few covered bridges. The oldest covered bridge in PA, in fact, dates back to 1825.
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Frankford Avenue Bridge is also commonly known as Pennypack Creek Bridge and carries traffic on U.S. Route 13.
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Address: 8300 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19136, USA
