At Swatara Gap the trail crossed Swatara Creek over Waterville Bridge. This bridge has been preserved as one of the last iron lenticular truss bridges remaining in this part of the U.S.
The bridge was not originally located here when it was erected in 1890. It spanned a creek in Lycoming County. When county road officials decided in the 1980s it could no longer safely support vehicles, it was restored and moved to this spot for use as a footbridge.
At one time, a canal was located here as well. Some remnants of it still exist.
Union Canal was first proposed by William Penn in 1690, but construction didn’t begin until the 1790s when anthracite coal was discovered in the area. President George Washington turned the first shovel of dirt in a ceremony at the start of construction.
The canal was not finished until 1828 because of several delays due to the economy and the War of 1812.
As with other canals of the day in the eastern U.S., railroads eventually made the canal obsolete.