Why is Hooversville's 'swinging bridge' now closed?

HOOVERSVILLE ― The borough's historic "swinging bridge" is closed temporarily for repairs.

On June 30. someone called the borough to report a section of the 180-foot-long pedestrian suspension bridge had collapsed, said Jennifer Robertson, borough secretary. Now, there are barricades and signs on either side of the bridge to prevent anyone from trying to walk across.

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"The borough is planning on fixing it," she said. "They will talk about it at the next council meeting (scheduled for July 9)."

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What is a 'swinging bridge'?

Hooversville's suspension bridge has been a landmark in the community for over a century; it allows pedestrians to walk between the east and west sides of the borough, over the Stonycreek River. The bridge bounces and sways as people walk across, creating the swinging feeling that has attracted generations of children and adults over the years.

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The swinging bridge was first built in 1907 and repaired over time, but that bridge was destroyed by a flood in January 1996. The Hooversville Lions Club then rebuilt the bridge and it reopened later that year. Additional preservation work on the bridge was done in 2016.

Beth Ann Miller covers the northern communities of Somerset County for the Daily American. To share a lead on a local story, send an email to bethm@dailyamerican.com.