Neff's Mill Covered Bridge

About

Neff's Mill Covered Bridge, originally called Bowman's Mill Covered Bridge, carries Penn Grant Road over Pequea Creek on the line between West Lampeter and Strasburg townships, 1.25 miles east of US Route 222 and south of Lampeter. It is 102 ft long with a 90 ft span, and is reportedly the narrowest covered bridge in Lancaster County. Its official name is Pequea #7 Bridge. It is open to one lane of traffic.

History

Christian Brackbill built the first bridge here in 1824; the cost is not recorded. James C. Carpenter rebuilt it in 1875 for $1,860, and some sources date the present bridge to that rebuild. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 11, 1980.

The bridge has been hit by trucks more than once. It reopened in 2023 after an earlier closure for repairs. On May 28, 2025, a box truck whose driver ignored the posted height limits rammed through the bridge and caused extensive damage, and it was closed indefinitely. Lancaster County said repairs were completed on December 17, 2025, and the bridge reopened.

Design

The bridge is a single span with double Burr arch trusses, timber arches paired with multiple kingpost trusses, and added steel hanger rods. The deck is oak plank, with 11 ft of overhead clearance. It is painted red inside and out, and both approaches are white.

Visiting

The bridge is on Penn Grant Road near PA Route 741. Vehicles can cross one at a time and must observe the height limit.

Sources: Wikipedia: Neff's Mill Covered Bridge, CBS 21: Historic Lancaster County covered bridge reopened after May box truck crash, Lancaster County Covered Bridges guide (2021)