ELK TOWNSHIP, PA — Chester County officials and community members gathered this week to celebrate the reopening of the reconstructed Rudolph and Arthur Covered Bridge, marking the return of a historic landmark that was swept away by Hurricane Ida in 2021.
County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe joined State Representative John Lawrence and Crossing Under Cover author Sara Beth Kohut to cut the ribbon before a crowd of more than 80 attendees, including project partners, historians, and residents.
The new bridge once again spans Big Elk Creek, reconnecting Elk and New London Townships in southern Chester County. It replaces the 140-year-old structure destroyed by record floodwaters that surged nearly 19 feet above previous levels during the remnants of Hurricane Ida.
Construction on the replacement bridge began in October 2024. The design closely replicates the 1880 original, featuring the traditional Burr Arch Truss that defined the craftsmanship of its era. The bridge continues to honor the Rudolph and Arthur families, who operated a papermill near the site more than a century ago.
The project highlights Chester County’s commitment to preserving its transportation heritage. The county government owns and maintains 91 roadway bridges, along with two shared bridges over the Schuylkill River with Montgomery County. More than half of these bridges are at least 75 years old, with several surpassing the century mark. Of the 15 covered bridges still standing in Chester County, five are owned and maintained by the county.
The reconstruction not only restores a vital roadway link but also revives a cherished symbol of Chester County’s rural history and resilience.
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