Frankford Avenue Bridge, Stone arch bridge in Holmesburg, Philadelphia, United States
Frankford Avenue Bridge is a stone arch bridge in Holmesburg, Philadelphia, consisting of three spans that cross Pennypack Creek. The structure rests on substantial stone arches that support the roadway above and span the waterway below.
It was built in 1697 at William Penn's request to connect his residence with Philadelphia and served as a key point on the King's Highway. With this founding, a crucial connection emerged that established territorial and trade links between the northern colonies and the city.
The bridge links the neighborhood of Holmesburg to central Philadelphia and is used daily by thousands crossing Pennypack Creek. Local residents know it as a reliable landmark that has connected their area to the city for generations.
The bridge carries Frankford Avenue, marked as US Route 13, and is used by thousands of vehicles daily. Visitors should know this is a busy road, and the best time for observation is outside peak traffic hours.
It is the oldest roadway bridge in continuous use in the United States, predating the nation's founding itself. That it still carries thousands of vehicles daily makes its endurance a quiet testament to early engineering skill.
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