{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox bridge | name = Great Crossings Bridge | image = file:GreatCrossingsBridge2024-11-3.jpg | carries = | crosses = Youghiogheny River | locale = Confluence, Pennsylvania | design = Stone arch bridge | length = {{Convert|375|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} | width = {{Convert|30|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} | height = {{Convert|40|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} | mainspan = | above = | below = | begin = 1815 | complete = | open = 4 July 1818 | coordinates = }}
The '''Great Crossings Bridge''' is a masonry bridge on the National Road between Somerset County and Fayette County, Pennsylvania. It crosses the Youghiogheny River near Confluence, Pennsylvania.
==History and architectural features== Built during the early nineteenth century, near a ford in use by Europeans since George Washington's 1753 journey to Fort LeBoeuf, the {{convert|375|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}}, {{convert|40|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}}, {{convert|30|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} sandstone bridge with three arches was erected between 1813 and 1818 by James Kinkead, James Beck and Evan Evans, and was dedicated on July 4, 1818 at an event attended by President James Monroe.<ref name="lowry1">{{cite news |last1=Lowry |first1=Patricia |title=A bridge to the 19th century |url=http://old.post-gazette.com/magazine/19990107bridge3.asp |access-date=27 March 2021 |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=January 7, 1999 |archive-date=10 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910144340/http://old.post-gazette.com/magazine/19990107bridge3.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The town of Somerfield, Pennsylvania, which was originally named Smythfield, was built at the eastern end of the bridge in 1817. The bridge and town were later inundated by Youghiogheny River Lake,<ref name="lowry1"/> a reservoir that began filling in 1940.<ref name="heberling1">{{cite book |last1=Heberling |first1=Scott D. |title=Historic Stone Bridges of Somerset County, Pennsylvania |date=2010 |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Transportation |isbn=978-0-89271-126-0 |page=7 |url=https://www.penndot.gov/ProjectAndPrograms/Cultural%20Resources/StoriesandHighlights/Documents/Historic%20Bridges%20of%20Somerset%20County_150%20higher%20resolution.pdf}}</ref>
The bridge remains standing in the reservoir, just downstream from the present U.S. Route 40 bridge.<ref name="lowry1"/><ref name="hay1">{{cite news |last1=Hay |first1=Dave |title=History of the Great Crossings Bridge and Youghoigheny River towns |url=https://www.dailyamerican.com/farm_field_garden/history-of-the-great-crossings-bridge-and-youghoigheny-river-towns/article_f9069fab-3da5-5caf-b471-35a9f4e5b315.html |access-date=27 March 2021 |publisher=Daily American |date=January 31, 2019}}</ref> The bridge is normally submerged year-round, but is occasionally accessible during periods of drought when the water level in the lake drops significantly. While the normal low-water mark during winter is at an elevation of {{convert|1419|ft|m}}, the top of the bridge is visible at {{convert|1392|ft|m}} and the deck is exposed at {{convert|1384|ft|m}}.<ref name="Himler2024">{{Cite news |last=Himler |first=Jeff |date=October 26, 2024|title=206-year-old bridge a sight to see for visitors to depleted Yough River Lake |url=https://triblive.com/local/regional/206-year-old-bridge-a-sight-to-see-for-visitors-to-depleted-yough-river-lake/ |access-date=November 2, 2024 |work=TribLive.com}}</ref><ref name="USGS">{{Citation |title=USGS Water-Year Summary for Site 03077000 |url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/wys_rpt/?site_no=03077000 |access-date=November 2, 2024 |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey}}</ref>
In November 2024, a drought completely exposed the Great Crossings Bridge as well as the remains of the city of Somerville. Over 10,000 people have visited the location since the bridge was exposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc27.com/digital-originals/drought-exposes-piece-of-pennsylvania-history/|title=Drought exposes piece of Pennsylvania history|last=Lindenmuth|first=Kaylee|date=November 18, 2024|access-date=January 11, 2025|website=acb27.com|publisher=WHTM-TV}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Stone arch bridges in the United States Category:National Road Category:Bridges in Somerset County, Pennsylvania Category:Youghiogheny River Category:Submerged buildings and structures Category:Bridges in Fayette County, Pennsylvania