A historic bridge built more than 200 years ago in southwestern Pennsylvania has been closed to the public after officials said they could not guarantee the stability of the structure.
The Great Crossing Bridge, originally built in honor of President George Washington, normally sits about 50 feet below the surface of Youghiogheny River Lake, but was exposed in early fall due to severe drought.
According to local residents, the last time the stone bridge was above water was in 2019.
The bridge is located approximately 110 miles southeast of Pittsburgh and is a tourist attraction, drawing thousands of visitors.
“The District understands the enthusiasm for this rare opportunity to see a piece of history that rarely emerges from the lake,” said Col. Nicholas Merrin, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District. “However, the safety of our visitors is our top priority. Given the uncertainty about the structural integrity of the bridge, we have made the decision to restrict access to the bridge.”
of This was announced by the US Army Corps of Engineers. We do not maintain the bridge, so we cannot guarantee its integrity.
Recent photos and videos from the lake show people walking on exposed stone bridges, searching for artifacts revealed by the receding water levels.
In addition to structural concerns, experts warn that anyone who accidentally enters the lake is at risk of hypothermia due to the cold water temperatures.
“Thousands of people have visited the bridge, and their response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Vince Klinkner, Youghiogheny River Lakes natural resources supervisor. “Our primary concern is the health of the public and we want to ensure our visitors continue to have a great experience when visiting the lake.”
The amount of exposed bridges is believed by local residents to be not unprecedented, as droughts in the 1950s and 1960s further exposed the historic structure.
According to the latest monitoring results, drought conditions are in the moderate to severe range across much of the south-west of the federation.
Dropping water levels in waterways such as the Allegheny, Youghiogheny and Ohio rivers have also made objects in the water more visible, making them dangerous for boaters.
Engineers believe water levels along the Youghiogheny River lake will soon begin to recover as a strong frontal boundary brings increased moisture into late fall and winter.
The lowering water levels also reportedly exposed some of the structures in the town of Summerfield that were abandoned in the early 1940s due to federal flood control programs.
