East Oriental Covered Bridge

About East Oriental Covered Bridge

East Oriental Covered Bridge, also known as Sheaffer Covered Bridge or Meiser's Covered Bridge, is a 90-foot covered bridge spanning Mahantango Creek between Juniata and Snyder Counties in Pennsylvania. Built in 1907, it is the shortest covered bridge in Juniata County and one of two covered bridges connecting the two counties. The bridge sits on private property and is currently in need of restoration.

History of East Oriental Covered Bridge

Constructed in 1907, East Oriental Covered Bridge has served the rural communities near the village of Oriental for over a century. The bridge is one of two spanning Mahantango Creek between Juniata and Snyder Counties, the other being the nearby North Oriental Covered Bridge. According to reports, the bridge is owned by two different parties who disagree on restoration, which has led to its continued deterioration. Despite its condition, the bridge remains standing and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Architecture and Design

The bridge utilizes a Burr Arch Truss design and measures 90 feet in length. While showing signs of disrepair with missing sideboards visible from a distance, the bridge does not exhibit the severe structural lean that characterized the now-collapsed Dimmsville Covered Bridge. The structure crosses Mahantango Creek, which forms the border between Juniata and Snyder Counties at this location.

Visiting East Oriental Covered Bridge

East Oriental Covered Bridge is located in a rural area northeast of Route 22, near the village of Oriental. The bridge sits on private property, so visitors should view it from public areas only. The best vantage point is from the modern bridge over Mahantango Creek, about 200 yards downstream. There is limited parking on the Juniata County side where the guardrails end. Please respect private property boundaries when visiting.