Claycomb Covered Bridge

About

Claycomb Covered Bridge, also called the Reynoldsdale Covered Bridge, crosses the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River at the entrance to Old Bedford Village, north of downtown Bedford. It is a 126 foot Burr truss bridge built in 1880 at Reynoldsdale and moved here in 1975. It carries vehicle traffic.

History

The bridge was built in 1880 at Reynoldsdale, which gives it its alternate name. It was moved to its present site and restored in 1975, and coveredbridges.net says it was reinforced with steel to carry buses visiting Old Bedford Village. Dale J. Travis records that it was rebuilt and a walkway removed in May 2006, and lists the build year as 1884 rather than 1880.

Design

A Burr truss pairs a long timber arch with a multiple kingpost truss. coveredbridges.net describes the bridge as unpainted, with a cedar shake roof, a crossboard plank deck, fully enclosed sides and poured concrete abutments. It is 14 feet wide with 12 feet 6 inches of vertical clearance.

Visiting

The bridge is at the entrance to Old Bedford Village, north of downtown Bedford near the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It is owned by the county rather than the village, so visitors do not need to enter the museum to see it. Uncovering PA suggests parking in the village lot or at a small pull-off just before the bridge.

Sources: Claycomb Covered Bridge, coveredbridges.net, Covered Bridges of Bedford County, Uncovering PA, Pennsylvania covered bridge list, Dale J. Travis