Harrison Avenue Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning Roaring Brook and a railroad line in Scranton, this open-spandrel concrete arch bridge was completed in 1922, according to a plaque on the structure. Its three spans include a main arch of 201 feet, and the arch rises high above the brook. Designed by William Schunk and built by the Anthracite Bridge Company, the bridge has a plain concrete finish, with only its piers given visual emphasis. Symmetrically placed spandrel arches, rather than posts, lighten the otherwise stark profile. Its engineering importance rests on its length: it is the longest-spanning example among the nominated open-spandrel concrete bridges, a bridge type that was widely used. The structure has been altered over time, including a parapet extension and superstructure concrete repairs, and it continues to carry vehicle traffic today.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as an important open-spandrel bridge whose main span of 201 feet is the longest of the typical open-spandrel arches in the nomination. Its massive arch is shown with minimal surface treatment, and symmetrically placed spandrel arches soften its appearance. It is presented as the longest-spanning nominated example of this frequently used concrete bridge type, and the significance is listed under 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 88000767, 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 5 over LR 35009 Par--Roaring Brook and RR, Scranton |
|---|---|
| County | Lackawanna County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000767 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | William Schunk (designer/engineer); Anthracite Bridge Company (builder/contractor) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered: extension of parapet and superstructure with concrete repairs; in vehicular use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.40004, -75.65136 (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 88000767.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5665505
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.