Stone Arch Bridge (Starrucca Creek)

The Stone Arch Bridge, also known as the Starrucca Viaduct, is a historic railroad bridge located in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania, crossing the Starrucca Creek. Constructed in 1848 by the Erie Railroad, it is a monumental example of 19th-century civil engineering and stone arch bridge construction. The bridge is composed of seventeen semi-circular arches, each spanning 50 feet, and rises over 100 feet above the creek bed. Built of locally quarried sandstone, the viaduct was a critical component of the Erie Railroad's original mainline, facilitating the movement of passengers and freight across the challenging terrain of northeastern Pennsylvania. Its massive scale and durable construction ensured its continued use for over a century. The Stone Arch Bridge is considered a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It stands as a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of early railroad engineering. While still owned by Norfolk Southern, the bridge is now primarily a tourist attraction and symbol of the region's history.