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1024x768) this page contains large photographic files - please be patient, they are worth the wait (scroll down for more photographs) |
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Google Earth view of the Bensalem Avenue Bridge |
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Photograph 1: A view from the eastern side of the northernmost arch of the bridge. |
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Photograph 2: A closer view. |
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Photograph 3: From here you can see the original center portion of the bridge (1916-17) and it's addtions on the eastern and western sides (1962). |
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Photograph 4: Looking up you can see a beautiful blue sky and a street lamp along the Roosevelt Blvd. |
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Photograph 5: The plaque in the center of the original 1916-17 span. (northernmost arch) |
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Photograph 6: A water stain running between the adjoining sections on the eastern side-south wall of the northernmost arch. Note the artistic cement work of the original span contrasted with the flat cement work of the 1962 addition. |
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Photograph 7: The center arch of the bridge (there are three arches) under which the Pennypack Creek flows. |
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Photograph 8: Another shot of the center arch of the bridge. |
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Photograph 9: The southern bank of the Pennypack Creek along the south wall of the center arch. |
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Bensalem Aveunue Bridge spans the Pennypack Creek near Winchester
Avenue & Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia. A major
accomplishment at the time, the bridge carries the "Northeast Boulevard" (Roosevelt
Boulevard) over Pennypack
Creek. This bridge was completed in April 1917 and was carried out by the Philadelphia firm of Day and Zimmermann. (see photograph 5) The Roosevelt Boulevard was originally named "Torresdale Boulevard" upon its opening in 1911, then changed to "Northeast Boulevard" in 1914, and finally "Roosevelt Boulevard" in 1919 to commemorate the death of President Theodore Roosevelt. Up until at least 1916 the portion of "Northeast Boulevard" north of the "Pennypack Circle" was named "Bensalem Avenue". (see *map of Pennypack Park from 1916 below) (click on the map for larger jpeg version) In the fall of 1962, city road builders raced to expand the Roosevelt Boulevard before winter. The project involved expanding the four-lane road to a jaw-dropping twelve-lane semi-highway. The original 3072 x 2048 digital photographs were taken from the vantage point of the Pennypack bike path which runs the length of the park, from Pine Road (Philadelphia County's Northeasternmost border) to the Delaware River.
For more information about Pennypark Park and the surrounding area
visit the Pennypack Park 100th Anniversary website at
Pennypack Park.org. |
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