June 14, 2016 – Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

This is the second leg of my covered bridge tour. I started this one immediately after finishing the last one. No rest for the wicked. This tour was called  Northern Amish Countryside, due to the fact that most of the route led me past Amish farms. This one also consisted of five covered bridges and beautiful scenery along the way.

Bucher’s Mill Covered Bridge spans Cocalico Creek and has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. The deck is made from oak planks. It is painted red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges, on both the inside and outside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color. The structure has a length of 64 feet and the width is 15 feet it is open to all traffic and in good condition. Click on the ensuing images to enlarge.

Red Run Covered Bridge once spanned the Muddy Creek in Lancaster County. It is currently situated on private property next to the Red Run Campground. It is 107 feet long with a width of 15 feet and is also known as the Oberholzer’s Covered Bridge. The structure is closed to traffic. The bridge has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses. It is painted red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges, on the outside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color.

Weaver’s Mill Covered Bridge is 85 feet long and 15 feet wide. It spans the Conestoga River and has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. It is painted red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges, on both the inside and outside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color. The bridge is in good condition and open to daily traffic.

Pool Forge Covered Bridge spans the Conestoga River and is now on private property where it was once used as a storage barn before the owner added a road to receive vehicle traffic. The bridge has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. It is painted entirely red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges on the outside. The inside of the bridge is not painted. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in red without any of the traditional white paint. The bridge is 99 feet and the width is 15 feet.

Bitzer’s Mill Covered Bridge spans the Conestoga River and is the oldest bridge in the county still in use. The bridge has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. The deck is made from oak planks. Added later, secondary steel I-beams support the bridge from underneath. The bridge is painted red on the outside, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges. The inside of the bridge is not painted. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color. The bridge length is 98 feet and the width is 15 feet it is open to all traffic and in good condition.

That completes the second leg of the covered bridge driving tour. Next up is the Scenic Parks & Preserves, so stay tuned.