Seal of Lower Saucon Township
3700 Old Philadelphia Pike / Bethlehem, Pa 18015 / 610-865-3291

Meadows Road Bridge

Lower Saucon Township The Meadows Road Bridge located on Meadows Road south of Hellertown Borough, spans the Saucon Creek.

Built in 1858, it is one of only two examples of a four span stone arch bridge built between 1826 and 1921 that exist in today in Northampton County.

Stone arch bridge construction predates the covered bridges and was the only technology available to the early settlers for longer and permanent spans prior to the introduction of metal truss bridge technology.

By authorizing the sum of $899.47 for the construction of the Meadows Road Bridge, the Northampton County Commissioners recognized the need of the local farmers to transport their grain to the Levi S. Moyer grist mill. Northampton County tax records for 1860 show Levi S. Moyer to be the wealthy owner of this grist mill. The handsome stone mill was built in 1829, continued operation as a mill for 110 years and still stands today. Farmers utilized the King's Highway (known as PA Rte. 412 today and was the original "Walking Purchase Trail") then crossed the Saucon Creek over the bridge and traveled another 300 yards to the mill. Also operating in the immediate area, when the bridge was built, was the Stevers Mine. It was an open pit limestone quarry mined by J.D. Heller. Dr. Heller used horse and cart to transport the limestone to local farmers.

Today the bridge is the oldest bridge in Lower Saucon Township and one of the oldest stone bridges in Northampton County. By the 1860's the Northampton County switched to building primarily iron span bridges.

The Meadows Road Bridge has been the focus of many local artists over the years, such as Fred Bees, Walter E Baum and in early 1900 post cards.

In 2008, in celebration of the bridge's 150 years, the Lower Saucon Township Council authorized the placement of a historic marker at the bridge noting its local historic significance.

Articles & Letters

August 31, 2020: The Northampton County Bridge No. 15 (Meadows Road Bridge) is officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Click here to see the final nomination draft which was forwarded to the National Park Service.

January 31, 2020: The Meadows Road Bridge has been named to Preservation Pennsylvania's annual list of endangered historic properties; click here to read the Press Release. The bridge was also featured in the "Pennsylvania At Risk Preservation" Winter 2020 newsletter; click here to see the article.

July 18, 2019 Update on the Meadows Bridge: PHMC said the bridge is eligible for listing on the National Register. Click here to read the letter.

Meadows Road Bridge - Identification of Resources. This posting contains an eligibility determination for the Meadows Road Bridge and identification of surrounding resources from the PA DEP Pennsylvania Transportation and Heritage website. Click here to go to the website.

June 25, 2019: Letter from Douglas McLearen from the PA State Historic Preservation Office on the Meadows Road Bridge Evaluation of Eligibility. Click here to read the letter.



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© 2017 Lower Saucon Township, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike / Bethlehem, Pa 18015 / 610-865-3291