Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge - York County, PA
N 40° 01.766 W 076° 30.897
18T E 370737 N 4432123
This bridge was part of the original Lincoln HIghway and was crucial for the continuance of the highway for passing over the Susquehanna River and continuing in and through the historic town of York. Now it is called Route 462.
Waymark Code: WM6T32
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 07/16/2009
Views: 15
The opening of this bridge in 1940 as part of the cross-state Pennsylvania Turnpike, a part of Interstate 76, subsequently provided faster passage. The road and bridge have been renamed several times but it is still an historic part of this legendary highway.
This is a very unique arch bridge. It has the distinction of being the world's longest concrete, multiple-arched bridge. It spans the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Wrightsville. It is also called the Veterans Memorial Bridge.
The Wiley-Maxon Construction Company began building the bridge in 1929 and finished construction in 1930. This bridge has a lot of history. It has been rebuilt several times over the last 150 years or so and was destroyed during the Civil War. It was once a covered wooden bridge a few times over. Now it is a steel reinforced, multiple, concrete arched bridge. The bridge is a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. It is considered to be the longest bridge of this type in the world. The bridge was designed by James B. Long and is approximately 5,183 feet (1,580 m) long. If you are traveling to York, PA from the Philly area you will have to cross this bridge or its sister bridge, Wright's Ferry Bridge, a quarter mile away or so to get over this river.