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Houlihan Bridge

James P. Houlihan Bridge

Houlihan Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: November 13, 2014

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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
GA-25 (Coastal Highway) Over Savannah River
Location
Port Wentworth: Chatham County, Georgia: United States
Structure Type
Metal Rivet-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Movable: Swing (Center Bearing Center Pier) and Approach Spans: Concrete T-Beam, Fixed
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1954 By Builder/Contractor: American Bridge Company of New York, New York
Rehabilitation Date
1998
Main Span Length
240.0 Feet (73.2 Meters)
Structure Length
1,465.0 Feet (446.5 Meters)
Roadway Width
28 Feet (8.53 Meters)
Spans
1 Main Span(s) and 49 Approach Span(s)
Inventory Number
5100540

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
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Bridge Documentation

This bridge's future is at risk!

Bridge Status: Slated for demolition and replacement, potentially after 2023.

View Archived National Bridge Inventory Report - Has Additional Details and Evaluation

View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Documentation For This Bridge

HAER Data Pages, PDF

A number of sources including HAER list the construction date for this bridge as 1922 and altered in 1954. This is extremely misleading. In 1954, the entire main span (the through swing swing span) of the bridge was demolished and replaced, and all concrete t-beam, approach spans were widened by adding beams in 1954. This would have required replacing all approach railing. Therefore, the only 1922 elements of the bridge are portions of the approach spans and substructure. HistoricBridges.org defines the main construction date for a bridge as the date in which the main span superstructure of the bridge was built, so a 1954 construction date is listed. This is further appropriate since the main span is the element of the bridge described as having historical significance. 

As a 1954 swing span, this is a late example of its type nationwide, but is significant on the state level as one of the only examples of this bridge type in Georgia.

The bridge in general retains good historic integrity as a 1954 swing bridge. The main exception is that the bridge tender house which was over the roadway in the center of the swing span was removed and replaced with a new bridge tender house located at the western end of the swing span.

Information and Findings From Georgia's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The 51 span bridge consists of a swing span bridge with thru truss superstructure and T beam approach spans. Originally constructed in 1922, the bridge had an 18'-wide roadway. In 1954 the bridge was widened by removal of the original swing span bridge and replacement with a new 12' wider structure built by the American Bridge Co. The T beam spans were retained but widened by T beam additions of 6' to each side. Original concrete balustrades were removed and replaced with standard concrete railings. The 1954 swing span bridge is technologically significant as 1 of only 2 identified swing span bridges (the other dates to 1940, 309-0016-0). It is a late example of the swing span technology, which reached its greatest period of popularity around 1900. The truss is rivet-connected with rolled steel sections.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a 2-lane state highway over the navigable Front River channel of the Savannah River at Port Wentworth. The bridge is on the Ocean Highway at the border of Georgia and South Carolina. SR 25 (Ocean Highway) was developed by the state highway department and the Coastal Highway District as a 155-mile long link in a chain of highways running the full length of the southern Atlantic seaboard. The route was completed by stages from north to south from 1922 to 1930, when the route had been concrete-surfaced for its entire length in Georgia. The bridge is part of a 6 bridge causeway over the Savannah River complex (051-0055-0, other bridges in SC jurisdiction) that was completed in 1922 and widened in 1954. Southwest of the bridge is a memorial plaque to the Coastal Highway. Southeast of the bridge is a boat launch and playground. The area to the north and west of the bridge is undeveloped wetlands.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes

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Photo Galleries and Videos: Houlihan Bridge

 

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Maps and Links: Houlihan Bridge

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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