By Jerry Mac, Keller Williams Realty

If you've ever driven down Covered Bridge Road in Cherry Hill, you know the moment. The road dips, the trees close in, and a big red wooden bridge appears right in front of you. It's the Scarborough Covered Bridge, and it's the best-known landmark in the Barclay Farms neighborhood. I'm Jerry Mac with Keller Williams Realty, and after 23 years selling homes in Cherry Hill, I can tell you buyers fall for it every time.

When the Covered Bridge Was Built

According to the township and local records, the bridge opened on February 14, 1959. It was designed by architect Malcolm Wells and named for Bob Scarborough, the builder who developed the Barclay Farm community in the 1950s. The bridge extended the neighborhood's street system over the North Branch of the Cooper River, so it was built to carry real traffic from day one. It was renovated in 1993.

About the Bridge

  • Style: a wooden covered bridge with a town truss design, painted red.
  • Size: about 55 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a posted clearance of 12 feet 6 inches. Taller trucks need to take another route.
  • Traffic: it carries two lanes of Covered Bridge Road, with sidewalks for pedestrians and bikes, so neighbors walk, ride and drive right through it.
  • What it crosses: the North Branch of the Cooper River.

A Holiday Tradition

Every holiday season, the bridge gets wreaths with red ribbons at each end. A 2016 Philadelphia Inquirer story traced the tradition back to 1993, when a neighbor started it to make the area look pretty for the holidays. The Barclay Farm Civic Association pays for the decorations, and volunteer firefighters help hang them. Details can change from year to year, but it shows how much this little bridge means to the people who live here.

Living Near the Covered Bridge

Covered Bridge Road is one of the streets that give Barclay Farms its character. The neighborhood is full of classic mid-century homes on tree-lined streets, close to the historic Barclay Farmstead, with sidewalks and parks throughout. Many neighbors tell me the bridge is part of why it feels like a real community.

If you're curious about buying or selling in the neighborhood, read my full guide to Barclay Farms homes, prices and schools, with current sale prices from Bright MLS. You can also browse my guide to Cherry Hill neighborhoods and my Cherry Hill homes for sale page.

Scarborough Covered Bridge FAQ

Where is the Scarborough Covered Bridge?
In the Barclay Farm neighborhood of Cherry Hill, NJ, where Covered Bridge Road crosses the North Branch of the Cooper River.

When was it built?
It opened on February 14, 1959, and was renovated in 1993.

Who is it named after?
Bob Scarborough, the builder who developed the Barclay Farm community.

Can you drive through it?
Yes. It carries two lanes of traffic, with sidewalks for pedestrians and bikes. The clearance is 12 feet 6 inches.

Thinking About Barclay Farms?

Whether you're buying your first home here or selling one you've loved for years, I'd love to help. Call or text me, Jerry Mac, at 856-220-1874, or visit www.southjerseyrealty.com for a free home value report.

Jerry Mac | Keller Williams Realty