About
Bogert's Covered Bridge crosses Little Lehigh Creek in Lehigh Parkway, Allentown. It is a Burr arch truss 145 ft long, built in 1841, and it is the oldest covered bridge in Lehigh County. It has been closed to vehicles since the 1950s and normally carries only pedestrians and bicycles, but it has been fully closed since September 15, 2025 for rehabilitation.
History
The bridge is named for the family of Peter Bogert, who bought the land in 1744. It once carried South 24th Street, and in 1945 the state Department of Highways took over its management. On February 19, 1956 a speeding truck pulling a trailer splintered seven of its twelve crossbeams, and on May 30, 1957 a truck carrying an earthmover smashed the roof. A Save the Bogert's Bridge Committee then won state approval to reroute South 24th Street to a new bridge a few hundred feet away. The Commonwealth reconstructed the covered bridge in 1964 and passed it to the City of Allentown. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 1, 1980.
The current $2.5 million project includes correcting the sag, repairing the siding, painting and replacing the roof. Work paused in July 2026 when crews found more wood deterioration than expected and waited for custom timbers, then resumed in September 2026. The city hoped to reopen the bridge by the end of 2026, though officials said the closure could extend into early 2027.
Design
Two long Burr arch trusses rest on abutments at each end. The bridge has vertical plank siding and a gable roof.
Visiting
The bridge is on Fish Hatchery Road in Lehigh Parkway. When open, it is for pedestrians and bicycles only.
Sources: Bogert Covered Bridge (Wikipedia), Bridge renewal underway (Lehigh Valley Press), Work resumes on Bogert's Covered Bridge (WFMZ)
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