The stone arch bridge at Rausch Gap is likely more famous now that it ever could have been when the railroad was in operation (picture on right).Being the only existing stone arch bridge left on the line, its history like the other bridges is dwarfed by the neighboring High Bridge. The stone arch was built in 1853-54 during the extension of the railroad from west of Rausch Gap to Auburn in Schuylkill County. (The earliest known picture of the bridge is shown top right, circa early 1900s.) The bridge saw continuous rail traffic until the late 1940s, when the tracks above the bridge were torn up. The first damage was seen to the bridge after Hurricane Agnes in 1972, where the bridge sat next to the creek. Concrete reinforcements were added to the bridge to make sure no additional damage was done to the bridge. Mortar was added around this time, for the first time in the bridge's life. Hurricane Ivan ripped down through the valley in 2004, sweeping away the concrete reinforcements, but no additional damage was know to be done to the bridge immediately. It was during another "minor" flood a few years later that the true damage was known (picture shown middle right). Not only was there damage done to the right leg of the bridge, but additional damage was done to the concrete reinforcements to the north of the bridge. Along with that damage, the bridge was showing signs of stress on both the left and right stone retaining walls (built in the 1850s). Due to this the bridge was deemed unsafe and closed to hikers, bikers and all other traffic across the bridge in early 2008. It took until shortly before the annual fall drive thru, that a portable steel bridge (similar to ones used in the military - gerter bridge). The bridge only rests on the two sides, off the main structure of the bridge in hopes of not causing more damage to the structure. Unfortunately, during the last few visits to the bridge it has been reported that the bridge seems to be continuing to strain under the weight. (Bridge pictured through the trees at right in 2008).