About
The North Oriental Covered Bridge, also known as the Beaver or Curry's Corner Covered Bridge, carries Turkey Valley Road over Mahantango Creek on the Juniata and Snyder county line, between Susquehanna Township near Oriental and Perry Township near Meiserville. It is a multiple kingpost truss bridge built in 1908, 62 ft long (68.6 ft overall). PennDOT owns it as part of the state highway system, and it is open to traffic.
History
After a truck damaged the bridge, it was rebuilt in 1987 (the Lewistown Sentinel dates the rehabilitation to 1988). It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 1979, as part of the Covered Bridges of Juniata and Snyder Counties group. In May 2021 another truck crash damaged it and PennDOT closed it with a detour. Repairs were finished and PennDOT reopened it to traffic in June 2021.
Design
A multiple kingpost truss uses a row of vertical posts with diagonal braces sloping toward the center of the span. The deck is about 12.6 ft wide, and the visitors bureau lists a clearance of 9 ft 3 in.
Visiting
The bridge is on Turkey Valley Road and carries vehicles. It is the only covered bridge on the Juniata River Valley tour still in the state highway system.
Sources: North Oriental Covered Bridge (coveredbridges.net), Local bridge reopens following crash repair (Lewistown Sentinel), Covered Bridge Tour (Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau)
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