About
Keller's Mill Covered Bridge carries Middle Creek Road over Cocalico Creek in Ephrata Township, west of Route 222 near Akron. It is a single span 74 ft long, first built in 1873, and officially named Cocalico No. 5 Bridge. It is also known as the Guy Bard Bridge and Rettew's Bridge. It is open to one lane of traffic.
History
Elias McMellen built the bridge in 1873 for $2,075. After a flood swept it away, McMellen rebuilt it in 1891. It originally stood on Rettew Mill Road, where heavy traffic strained the aging one lane bridge and a steel and concrete bridge was built to replace it. The covered bridge was taken apart in 2006, rebuilt in 2009, and reopened in December 2010 on Middle Creek Road a few miles downstream, where it replaced another one lane bridge. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 10, 1980.
Design
The bridge uses double Burr arch trusses, timber arches combined with multiple kingpost trusses, with steel hanger rods. The deck is oak plank. Unlike the county's red bridges, it is painted white outside with an unpainted interior, and it is described as the only bridge to survive the county's change from whitewash to red paint.
Visiting
The bridge is on Middle Creek Road near Akron. Vehicles can cross one at a time.
Sources: Wikipedia: Keller's Mill Covered Bridge, Lancaster County Covered Bridges guide (2021)
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