The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) said Sunday that one of Chester County’s beloved covered bridges was damaged by an oversized vehicle and will remain closed indefinitely.
The Hollow Road Covered Bridge over French Creek between French Creek Road and Pughtown Road in West Vincent and East Vincent townships is closed indefinitely due to structural damage sustained overnight, apparently from impact by a large vehicle, according to PennDOT. Damage was sustained to both sides of the supports, as well as the beams and arches.
The single lane steel I-beam covered bridge will remain closed until PennDOT bridge engineers can examine the structural damage and develop a plan to rehabilitate the covered structure.
During the bridge closure, motorists are advised to follow the posted detour of Hollow Road and Pughtown Road.
The Hollow Road Covered Bridge over French Creek was originally built in 1850 and reconstructed in 1996. The single-span bridge is 102 feet long and 15 feet wide. The bridge carried an average of 1,004 vehicles a day prior to its closure.
