About
Pinetown Covered Bridge, also called Bushong's Mill and Nolte's Point Mill Bridge, crosses the Conestoga River where Lititz Run joins it. The county lists it on Bridge Road between Manheim and Upper Leacock townships. It is 133 ft long with a 124 ft span, built in 1867, and officially named Big Conestoga #6 Bridge. It is open to one lane of traffic.
History
Elias McMellen built the bridge in 1867 for $4,500. In June 1972 the Hurricane Agnes flood knocked it off its base. A petition from area residents made it one of the first covered bridges restored after Agnes, and in spring 1973 nearby Amish builders rebuilt it, raising it to 17 ft 6 in above the average water line. Flooding from Tropical Storm Lee in September 2011 damaged it again and closed it; it was rebuilt, raised again, and reopened in January 2014. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 11, 1980. Lancaster County owns and maintains it.
Design
The bridge is a single span with double Burr arch trusses, timber arches combined with multiple kingpost trusses, and added steel hanger rods. The clear deck is 12 ft 10 in wide, laid with oak planks, with 11 ft 6 in of overhead clearance. It is painted red inside and out, and the approaches are red with white trim.
Visiting
The bridge is on Bridge Road. Vehicles can cross one at a time.
Sources: Wikipedia: Pinetown Bushong's Mill Covered Bridge, Lancaster County Covered Bridges guide (2021), Covered Bridges: Pinetown
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