Chester County now officially owns Downingtown’s historic Trestle Bridge, writes Mike Rellahan for The Daily Local News.
On May 21, Chester County commissioners voted to transfer ownership from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to the county with a purchase of $1. County ownership allows for increased control over the bridge’s architecture and layout, including new safety regulations.
Commissioners shared plans to join the existing railroad bed with the Chester Valley Trail, the nearby walking trail that stretches into Montgomery County.
In addition to joining the trails, commissioners hope to increase safety measures surrounding the bridge. Over the last decade, a number of community members have died by suicide jumping from the bridge, with two deaths in 2023.
While PENNDOT built higher fences around the bridge that year, Chester County commissioners plan to make the bridge completely enclosed for increased safety when crossing.
Design of the renovation is expected to begin later this year, with construction planned to begin in 2027.
The Trestle Bridge was first built in 1903 and currently stretches over 1,400 feet. County commissioners Eric Roe and Josh Maxwell voiced the importance of these new safety measures so that the historic landmark can be enjoyed safely by the community for years to come.
Read more about the Trestle Bridge and the county’s plans for increased safety measures in The Daily Local News.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on VISTA Today in May 2025.
