Ouaquaga Lenticular Truss Bridge
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Why it's listed
Carrying Dutchtown Road across the Susquehanna River at Ouaquaga, this 343-foot iron bridge links the towns of Windsor and Colesville. It has two 170-foot lenticular truss spans, each with ten panels, resting on stone abutments and a center pier. Decorative metal cresting and a builder's plate ornament the structure. The Berlin Iron Bridge Company of East Berlin, Connecticut, built it in 1888-89 for $14,600, split between the two towns, after a wooden toll bridge at the site was destroyed. The design relied on William O. Douglas's patented lenticular truss, which drew criticism from engineers but sold widely. The bridge is notable for its exceptionally long spans and high integrity, despite a 1963 deck replacement and 1977 pier reinforcement after flood damage. It remains the only multiple-span, through lenticular truss bridge still carrying vehicles in New York, which is the basis for its listing under engineering.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding and exceptionally intact example of a double-span lenticular truss bridge in New York's Southern Tier. Its 170-foot spans are among the longest in the state. It is also one of the few of its type still in vehicular use, and the only multiple-span through lenticular truss in use in New York.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 03000048, listed February 20, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Dutchman Rd. over Susquehanna R, Ouaquaga |
|---|---|
| County | Broome County |
| Listed | February 20, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000048 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1888 |
| Architect / builder | Berlin Iron Bridge Company, East Berlin, Connecticut |
| Architectural style | no style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a vehicular bridge, with a posted load limit of six tons; floor and deck replaced in 1963 and pier encased after flood damage in 1977. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.12349, -75.64728 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 03000048.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707144
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.