Centennial Bridge
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Why it's listed
Centennial Bridge is a three-span stone arch carrying Station Avenue over Saucon Creek in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Built of rubble masonry around 1876, according to PennDOT records, it measures 233 feet overall, with three arches of 23 feet each and two piers. The bridge is regarded as unusual because of the height of its arches above the stream and their slightly horseshoe-shaped profile, which together give it a configuration seen rarely among the bridges in its group. Its length places it among only three stone bridges over 200 feet long in the group, and it is one of three stone bridges in Lehigh County from the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Its importance rests on its engineering. A counterfort wall and underpinning added in 1980 altered the structure, and it continues to carry vehicle traffic in a residential setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is unusual for its long, high stone arches, whose slightly horseshoe-shaped profile is considered rare among the bridges in the multiple property group. It is one of three stone bridges over 200 feet long in that group and one of three in Lehigh County, all built in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. The listing is under the engineering area of significance.
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 88000772, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Station Ave. over Saucon Creek, Center Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000772 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1876 |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered in 1980 with a counterfort wall and underpinning; in vehicular use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.52859, -75.39159 (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 88000772.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5059122
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.