Since 1898, the Spring Creek Bridge has stood tall in Milesburg, Pennsylvania. Like the other hundreds of thousands of bridges across the United States, the Spring Creek Bridge, also known as Veterans Bridge, serves as a source of connectivity and transportation for Centre County residents.
Thousands of cars zoom on through the bridge on a daily basis and oversee the gorgeous view the bridge has to offer.
With a population of nearly 1,000 residents, the small town of Milesburg has two creeks that meet at the bridge, the Bald Eagle Creek and Spring Creek, hence the name “Spring Creek Bridge”
The bridge has been an important part of the community for quite some time, which Penn State student and Milesburg resident Chris Malazita emphasized.
“The bridge, it’s super important to the community. It’s been around for such a long time and it’s just a great means of transportation,” Malazita said.
A bridge quite literally brings two communities together, and the Spring Creek bridge is no different. Peter Kempf, senior civil engineer manager for Pennsylvania’s department of transportation, says whenever a bridge need work done, it disrupts the continuity between the two communities.
“A bridge by nature brings two communities together. So when we have a bridge that needs maintenance work or needs to be reconstructed, there’s two communities that were together that have a sense of divide,” Kempf said. “Anytime you disrupt someone’s normal way of life, there’s generally pushback. So, it’s our responsibility from the PR side of things to do that educational reach, and then make sure they understand why we’re doing what we’re doing,” he continued.
Back in 1997, the Spring Creek Bridge underwent rehabilitation, which entails major work to a bridge. Kempf says whenever work like that is done to a bridge, it’s important for his department to make sure there’s a clear understanding as to why the work is being done, and why it’s happening at that time.
“Anytime you disrupt someone’s normal way of life, there’s generally pushback. So, it’s our responsibility from the PR side of things to do that educational reach, and then make sure they understand why we’re doing what we’re doing,” he continued.
Ever since being constructed in 1898, the Spring Creek Bridge has served as a connector for the community here in Milesburg, Pennsylvania. It underwent rehabilitation in 1997, and ever since it continues to offer a gorgeous view and serves as a gateway of travel for all commuters.
Gabe at Veterans Bridge