Stone Arch Bridges of Northampton County

Gabrielle Vicari

Meadows Road Bridge

The National Register-eligible Meadows Road Bridge, shown above in 2018, was demolished in 2022. The four-span stone arch bridge was determined to be structurally unsound and was in a state of partial collapse after being closed to traffic for several years. Rehabilitation was deemed not possible. As a result of the loss of the bridge, this storymap was created to document the remaining stone arch bridges in Northampton County.

Stone arch bridges are the earliest surviving bridge type found in Pennsylvania, particularly in the southeast and south central regions of the state. The areas' naturally-occurring stone was suitable for building high-quality structures that would provide long-lasting, safe, and stable crossings of rivers and streams. Waves of European settlers included craftsmen who had the skills necessary for complex engineering and construction projects. The majority of surviving stone arch bridges were constructed in the nineteenth century, although there are earlier and later examples. Stone arch bridges are important reminders of the expansion of the United States' early transportation networks, and are significant examples of early engineering and craftsmanship.

In Northampton County, fourteen stone arch bridges remain as of 2023. The bridges were constructed between c. 1761 and c. 1934, and range in size from one to four spans. While some bridges retain their historic appearance, many have been altered to suit modern traffic safety needs. They are, however, overwhelmingly still recognizable as stone arch bridges. Of the fourteen bridges, one is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, five are eligible for listing, and three more are contributing resources.

Information contained within this map was gathered from a variety of sources, including the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)'s PA-SHARE database, BridgeHunter.com, HistoricBridges.org, and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation records.

For further historic information on any of the bridges described here, please contact the  Pennsylvania SHPO .

M. Opp Bridge

The M. Opp Bridge is a single-span stone arch bridge over Fry's Run in Williams Township. The bridge is built of coursed ashlar, and is topped with parapet piers. According to a datestone on the western elevation, the bridge was constructed in 1824 by Michael Opp, a prominent regional bridge engineer. The bridge may be the last remaining example of Opp's work in Northampton County.

Durham Road Bridge over Fry's Run

The Durham Road Bridge over Fry's Run is located in Williams Township. The three-span camelback stone arch bridge was built in 1857.  Although the configuration of the bridge is a common form, the arch spans are small and reminiscent of earlier bridges despite mid-nineteenth century advancements in engineering technology.  The bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

CNJ Bridge over Hope Road

This single-span stone arch bridge was built c. 1867 by the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad. The line was later leased by the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ), which made it part of their mainline from Scranton to Jersey City. The bridge no longer carries traffic. The bridge was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and also contributes to the CNJ and the Hopeville Historic District.

North 3rd Street Bridge over Bushkill Creek

The North 3rd Street Bridge is a three-span stone arch bridge carrying North 3rd Street over Bushkill Creek in the city of Easton. Built in 1894 of ashlar, the bridge is surrounded today by late nineteenth and early twentieth century commercial buildings that have been adaptively reused by Lafayette College, including a c. 1920 building constructed against its downstream side. The original railings were replaced with a brick parapet c. 1960, and additional alterations were made in the 1990s. The bridge was further rehabilitated in 2016. Due to loss of integrity and lack of significance, the bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

13th Street Bridge over Bushkill Creek

The 13th Street Bridge is a three-span stone arch bridge carrying 13th Street over Bushkill Creek in the city of Easton. The bridge was constructed in 1886 from ashlar stone, and concrete parapets were added in 1927. Further rehabilitation was conducted in 2017. The bridge is in an industrial setting, and according to local history, owners of the adjacent industrial properties were influential in its construction. The bridge was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It is adjacent to the western end of the Karl Stirner Arts Trail.

Ohio Road Bridge

The c. 1761 Ohio Road Bridge carries Ohio Road over Monocacy Creek in downtown Bethlehem's Moravian Industrial Area. The bridge was part of the main route west from Bethlehem until 1870 when a larger bridge was built to the north. The bridge has two spans and is closed to vehicular traffic. The bridge was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It is also located within the National Historic Landmark Historic Moravian Bethlehem Historic District and the listed Central Bethlehem Historic District.

Macada Road Bridge

This four-span stone arch bridge was constructed c. 1911 to carry Macada Road over Monocacy Creek in Hanover Township. The bridge was widened in 1959 to accommodate a wider roadway and sidewalks, made possible by steel beams encased in the concrete road deck. The bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Hanoverville Road over Monocacy Creek

The Hanoverville Road Bridge is a two-span stone arch bridge carrying Hanoverville Road over Monocacy Creek in Lower Nazareth Township. The bridge was built circa 1890, and is built of rubble stone spandrels with matched arch rings. Widening, including the addition of cantilevered deck sections and concrete parapets, took place in 1949 and 1959. The bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Stonebridge Road over Hokendauqua Creek

The bridge carrying Stonebridge Road over Hokendauqua Creek in Allen Township is a three-span stone arch bridge built of coursed rubble with matched arch rings. It is believed to have been built c. 1875. There have been multiple modifications, such as parapet reconstruction and encasement or replacement of an original pier nose, since the bridge's original construction. The bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Maple Drive Bridge over Bertsch Creek

The bridge carrying Maple Drive over Bertsch Creek in Lehigh Township is a three-span stone arch bridge constructed c. 1889. The bridge shares a common abutment with the adjacent Lehigh & New England Railroad bridge over Bertsch Creek. In 1933, the bridge was widened with concrete slabs and the original parapets were removed; the bridge was further rehabilitated in 2017. The bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Lehigh & New England Railroad over Bertsch Creek

This three-span stone arch bridge crosses Bertsch Creek adjacent to Maple Drive in Lehigh Township. It was constructed c. 1889 by the Lehigh & New England Railroad, a company devised in the 1880s to supply southern New England with coal from Pennsylvania's anthracite region. The railroad line was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. The bridge shares a common abutment with the bridge carrying Maple Drive over Bertsch Creek. The bridge was abandoned, along with the railroad branch line it carried, in 1934. The bridge is not listed in PA-SHARE, but has been determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; however, the bridge does contribute to the Lehigh & New England Railroad.

Cedar Drive over Indian Creek

The three-span stone arch bridge carries Cedar Drive over Indian Creek in Moore Township. It was constructed in 1826, according to the datestone on the bridge. While some twentieth century additions are present, such as concrete toe walls and capstones, the bridge retains its original masonry pattern and historic appearance. The bridge was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Glase Road over Hokendauqua Creek

This three-span stone arch bridge carries Glase Road over Hokendaqua Creek in Moore Township. It was originally constructed in 1839 but was reconstructed in 1896.  The bridge has been significantly modified, including a modern wingwall flare to improve road geometry, the construction of which necessitated the removal of part of an original arch. Further, a significant portion of the parapets have been rebuilt, and concrete caps have been added. The bridge was further rehabilitated in 1995 and 2020, and was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Delabole Road Bridge

The bridge carrying Delabole Road over Greenwalk Creek is a single-span stone arch bridge located outside Bangor in Washington Township. The c. 1934 bridge is constructed entirely of rough-cut fine-pointed stone. The bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

M. Opp Bridge

The M. Opp Bridge is a single-span stone arch bridge over Fry's Run in Williams Township. The bridge is built of coursed ashlar, and is topped with parapet piers. According to a datestone on the western elevation, the bridge was constructed in 1824 by Michael Opp, a prominent regional bridge engineer. The bridge may be the last remaining example of Opp's work in Northampton County.

The bridge was actively used as part of the road network along the Delaware River until the 1930s, when the current bridge carrying River Road over Fry's Run was constructed. The new bridge partially cut off the southern end of the historic bridge, however, 90% of the nineteenth-century structure remains intact although it does not carry a roadway. The bridge is situated in Fry's Run County Park and was determined eligible for listing in the National Register in 1990.

Durham Road Bridge over Fry's Run

The Durham Road Bridge over Fry's Run is located in Williams Township. The three-span camelback stone arch bridge was built in 1857.  Although the configuration of the bridge is a common form, the arch spans are small and reminiscent of earlier bridges despite mid-nineteenth century advancements in engineering technology.  The bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

CNJ Bridge over Hope Road

This single-span stone arch bridge was built c. 1867 by the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad. The line was later leased by the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ), which made it part of their mainline from Scranton to Jersey City. The bridge no longer carries traffic. The bridge was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and also contributes to the CNJ and the Hopeville Historic District.

North 3rd Street Bridge over Bushkill Creek

The North 3rd Street Bridge is a three-span stone arch bridge carrying North 3rd Street over Bushkill Creek in the city of Easton. Built in 1894 of ashlar, the bridge is surrounded today by late nineteenth and early twentieth century commercial buildings that have been adaptively reused by Lafayette College, including a c. 1920 building constructed against its downstream side. The original railings were replaced with a brick parapet c. 1960, and additional alterations were made in the 1990s. The bridge was further rehabilitated in 2016. Due to loss of integrity and lack of significance, the bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

13th Street Bridge over Bushkill Creek

The 13th Street Bridge is a three-span stone arch bridge carrying 13th Street over Bushkill Creek in the city of Easton. The bridge was constructed in 1886 from ashlar stone, and concrete parapets were added in 1927. Further rehabilitation was conducted in 2017. The bridge is in an industrial setting, and according to local history, owners of the adjacent industrial properties were influential in its construction. The bridge was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It is adjacent to the western end of the  Karl Stirner Arts Trail. 

Ohio Road Bridge

The c. 1761 Ohio Road Bridge carries Ohio Road over Monocacy Creek in downtown Bethlehem's Moravian Industrial Area. The bridge was part of the main route west from Bethlehem until 1870 when a larger bridge was built to the north. The bridge has two spans and is closed to vehicular traffic. The bridge was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It is also located within the National Historic Landmark Historic Moravian Bethlehem Historic District and the listed Central Bethlehem Historic District.

Macada Road Bridge

This four-span stone arch bridge was constructed c. 1911 to carry Macada Road over Monocacy Creek in Hanover Township. The bridge was widened in 1959 to accommodate a wider roadway and sidewalks, made possible by steel beams encased in the concrete road deck. The bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Hanoverville Road over Monocacy Creek

The Hanoverville Road Bridge is a two-span stone arch bridge carrying Hanoverville Road over Monocacy Creek in Lower Nazareth Township. The bridge was built circa 1890, and is built of rubble stone spandrels with matched arch rings. Widening, including the addition of cantilevered deck sections and concrete parapets, took place in 1949 and 1959. The bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Stonebridge Road over Hokendauqua Creek

The bridge carrying Stonebridge Road over Hokendauqua Creek in Allen Township is a three-span stone arch bridge built of coursed rubble with matched arch rings. It is believed to have been built c. 1875. There have been multiple modifications, such as parapet reconstruction and encasement or replacement of an original pier nose, since the bridge's original construction. The bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Maple Drive Bridge over Bertsch Creek

The bridge carrying Maple Drive over Bertsch Creek in Lehigh Township is a three-span stone arch bridge constructed c. 1889. The bridge shares a common abutment with the adjacent Lehigh & New England Railroad bridge over Bertsch Creek. In 1933, the bridge was widened with concrete slabs and the original parapets were removed; the bridge was further rehabilitated in 2017. The bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Lehigh & New England Railroad over Bertsch Creek

This three-span stone arch bridge crosses Bertsch Creek adjacent to Maple Drive in Lehigh Township. It was constructed c. 1889 by the Lehigh & New England Railroad, a company devised in the 1880s to supply southern New England with coal from Pennsylvania's anthracite region. The railroad line was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. The bridge shares a common abutment with the bridge carrying Maple Drive over Bertsch Creek. The bridge was abandoned, along with the railroad branch line it carried, in 1934. The bridge is not listed in PA-SHARE, but has been determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; however, the bridge does contribute to the Lehigh & New England Railroad.

Cedar Drive over Indian Creek

The three-span stone arch bridge carries Cedar Drive over Indian Creek in Moore Township. It was constructed in 1826, according to the datestone on the bridge. While some twentieth century additions are present, such as concrete toe walls and capstones, the bridge retains its original masonry pattern and historic appearance. The bridge was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Glase Road over Hokendauqua Creek

This three-span stone arch bridge carries Glase Road over Hokendaqua Creek in Moore Township. It was originally constructed in 1839 but was reconstructed in 1896.  The bridge has been significantly modified, including a modern wingwall flare to improve road geometry, the construction of which necessitated the removal of part of an original arch. Further, a significant portion of the parapets have been rebuilt, and concrete caps have been added. The bridge was further rehabilitated in 1995 and 2020, and was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Delabole Road Bridge

The bridge carrying Delabole Road over Greenwalk Creek is a single-span stone arch bridge located outside Bangor in Washington Township. The c. 1934 bridge is constructed entirely of rough-cut fine-pointed stone. The bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.