Layton Bridge
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 by the Pencoyd Iron Works, a firm operated by the A. and P. Roberts Company of Philadelphia, this steel bridge crosses the Youghiogheny River at Layton in Fayette County. It is a pin-connected Pratt through truss with two main spans of 181 feet each and fifteen secondary spans of 32 feet, with approaches of 16 feet, giving an overall length of 811 feet. The bridge is 25 feet wide and carries a single lane of vehicular traffic. Its significance lies in an unusual design: the road deck passes midway through the truss, with the floorbeams joined to the verticals well above the bottom chord, instead of sitting just above it as in the standard arrangement. This configuration is visible only in side elevation. Among the fourteen Pratt through trusses in the nomination, it is the only example of this type. The bridge is also noted for its engineering interest, and the surrounding area is a wooded, undeveloped setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is an unusually configured Pratt through truss, with the road deck framed into the verticals high above the bottom chord rather than just above it, a feature visible only in elevation. It is described as the only example of this type among the fourteen Pratt through trusses included in the nomination. The area of significance is engineering.
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 88000840, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | LR 26191 over Youghiogheny River, Layton |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000840 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | A. & P. Roberts Company (Pencoyd Iron Works, Pencoyd, PA) |
| Architectural style | Pratt through truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Document lists present use as vehicular and notes a 1974 deck repair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.08937, -79.73011 (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 88000840.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6505710
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.