Westminster College celebrated the official opening of the campus’ Floyd J. Zehr Bridge during a Homecoming Weekend ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18.

Named for the late Dr. Zehr, professor of physics emeritus who taught at Westminster from 1965 to 2000, the 75-foot footbridge spans the Little Neshannock Creek and connects the campus to the Westminster College Field Station, a 50-acre plot that extends east from Brittain Lake on the main campus to Fayette-New Wilmington Road.  

“Building this new bridge between main campus and the outdoor lab is important not just for our students and faculty and staff, but for the community,” said Westminster College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson, adding that the new bridge was made possible by with gifts from Zehr’s widow, Pearl Zehr, and the estate of Robert Ross.

Dr. Patrick Krantz, director of the Westminster College Outdoor Laboratory, said the financial contributions created not only a physical structure but a lasting legacy that will allow students, faculty, staff and community members to experience the transformative power of nature.

“The bridge symbolizes more than just an access point (to the Field Station), it represents a commitment to education and exploration,” Krantz said. “It’s a place for research, learning and tranquil reflection, and it enriches the academic and personal growth of our students and members of the community.”

Zehr, who passed away in 2014, and colleagues including Dr. Clarence Harms, professor of biology emeritus, are credited with the 1983 construction of the original pedestrian bridge, which closed in the fall of 2000 due to safety concerns.

“It was a task of labor and a task of love and I’m happy to have been a part of it,” said Harms, who spoke at the ceremony, recounting the story of the original bridge’s construction.

Composed of fiberglass, the new bridge was engineered to withstand flood conditions and is resistant to rot, rust or corrosion typically associated with wooden, steel or aluminum structures.

The Zehr Bridge project was overseen by Westminster College Director of Facilities Operations Jason Janusziewicz. Bridge design and permitting were handled by Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc. from Monroeville, Pa., while the removal of the old structure and construction of the new bridge was provided by Thomas Construction Inc. of Grove City, Pa. Construction began in January and was completed in April.

To view a video of the bridge, please click here.

Top photo, from left: Ken Romig, vice president for finance and management services; Dr. Patrick Krantz, director of the Westminster College Outdoor Laboratory; Pearl Zehr, wife of Dr. Floyd Zehr; Dr. Clarence Harms, professor of biology emeritus; and President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson.

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