Historic Bell's Mills Bridge set for closure for drainage work

Drains on both ends of the historic Bell’s Mills Bridge are set to be replaced next week.

County engineer Vaughn Neill said the covered wooden span will be closed for about four days while crews work there. The drainage infrastructure that allows water to flow off the road and bridge into Sewickley Creek has been deteriorating in the last couple months.

“They’re due to be replaced,” he said.

The red bridge was built in 1850 over Sewickley Creek by architect Daniel McCain, connecting South Huntingdon and Sewickley townships. The county completely rebuilt it in 1988, eight years after it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The structure was named for the Bell brothers who operated a nearby gristmill in the 19th century. It is Westmoreland County’s last remaining covered bridge.

The timing of the work is weather-dependent, but the closure could start Monday morning and last through Thursday.

The bridge was damaged in a fire in 2009 and a 6-foot section of siding was replaced. Three years later, a $157,000 maintenance project included pressure washing, a coat of fire retardant paint and a new roof. It was repaired in early 2019 after a hit-and-run ripped off a few pieces of wooden railing and damaged an end post that holds up the roof.

More fire damage was averted in July 2020 after a report of smoke on the bridge prompted firefighters to find hot embers and a softball-sized hole in the decking.