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

Beth Ann Miller, The Daily American
·1 min read

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)."

The pedestrian suspension bridge in Hooversville is closed because a section of the footbridge has collapsed.
The pedestrian suspension bridge in Hooversville is closed because a section of the footbridge has collapsed.

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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 pedestrian bridge is about 180 feet long and crosses over the Stonycreek River, connecting the eastern and western sections of the borough. Generations of families and visitors have walked across the historic bridge over the years to experience the thrill of swinging and swaying as they cross the river.
The pedestrian bridge is about 180 feet long and crosses over the Stonycreek River, connecting the eastern and western sections of the borough. Generations of families and visitors have walked across the historic bridge over the years to experience the thrill of swinging and swaying as they cross the river.

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.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Hooversville historic pedestrian suspension bridge closed for repairs