Wertz's Covered Bridge

About

Wertz's Covered Bridge, also called the Red Covered Bridge, crosses Tulpehocken Creek northwest of Reading, between Bern and Spring Townships in Berks County. It is a single-span Burr arch truss bridge built in 1867 and is described as the longest single-span covered bridge in Pennsylvania. Wikipedia gives its length as 204 feet; the World Guide to Covered Bridges gives 218 feet. It is closed to vehicles and open to pedestrians.

History

Amandas Kneer built the bridge in 1867, according to Wikipedia; dalejtravis.com gives 1869. It was rehabilitated from April to August 1959 and closed permanently to traffic on October 23, 1959, when the Warren Street Bypass opened. From June to December 1984 it was restored: the siding, several floorboards and the rotted arch ends were replaced, the bridge was jacked up, realigned and tightened, its camber was restored, and cedar shingles were put on the roof. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 17, 1978, and it is one of five covered bridges remaining in Berks County.

Design

It is a Burr arch truss: a long timber arch on each side combined with a multiple kingpost truss, with the arch ends bearing on the abutments. Its single span over the Tulpehocken is the longest of any covered bridge in the state.

Visiting

From PA 183, about 4 miles northwest of US 422 in Reading, take Red Bridge Road south 0.6 mile to the bridge, according to dalejtravis.com. It now serves as the walkway entrance to the Berks County Heritage Center, which includes the Gruber Wagon Works. It is open to pedestrians only.

Sources: Wertz's Covered Bridge (Wikipedia), Wertz or Red 38-06-06 (dalejtravis.com)

Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.