Great Crossings Bridge

Great Crossings Bridge is a stone arch bridge that crosses the Youghiogheny River near Confluence, Pennsylvania, built with multiple curved spans of masonry. The structure features robust stonework designed to carry traffic across the river valley.

Construction began in 1815 under builders James Kinkead, James Beck, and Evan Evans, completing by 1818. The bridge marked an important transportation link in the region during the early 1800s.

The bridge marked an essential crossing point near the ford used by George Washington during his 1753 expedition to Fort LeBoeuf.

The bridge sits underwater beneath Youghiogheny River Lake and is not normally accessible to visitors. It becomes partially visible only during extended drought periods when water levels drop significantly.

The structure rests on the lake bottom alongside remnants of Somerfield, a settlement founded in 1817 that was also submerged when the reservoir was created in 1926. Together they form an unexpected collection of drowned early American infrastructure.

GPS coordinates: 39.75541,-79.39674

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:01