In 2006, HistoricBridges.org unofficially declared November Historic Bridge Awareness Month. November was selected for two reasons. One was to remember the anniversary of the demolition of the Shanley Road Bridge. The other reason was because in November, as winter and the end of the construction season nears, it is a good time to reflect on the loss of historic bridges during the past summer. It is also a good time to note that the upcoming winter months are a great time to contact those in charge of historic bridges and try to encourage them to cancel plans to demolish historic bridges before future construction seasons begin. To that end, HistoricBridges.org offers the following 2010 Historic Bridge Awareness Month presentation, which focuses on raising awareness and reflecting on the past year.
With the 2010 Midterm Elections in the United States
completed, and the defeat of House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar, there is the potential for change on the
horizon, and so there has never been a better time to contact your
representative and tell them that you want an end to the wasteful Surface
Transportation funding system which rewards agencies who defer maintenance and
repairs and choose to let their bridges deteriorate, by giving such agencies
demolition and replacement funds. Tell your representatives that you instead
want to see a major increase in the amount of funds made available for the
maintenance and repair of existing bridges, something that undoubtedly would
help trim the budget, since the majority of the time a bridge rehabilitation
project will cost less than a replacement project.
Our nation's historic bridges are being demolished and replaced at a staggering rate, when many of them could easily be rehabilitated for less then the cost of their replacement. If you care for historic bridges, than speak out against this. By doing nothing, you only legitimize the current broken system which is destroying our heritage and wasting tax dollars at the same time.
Among Bridges Documented On HistoricBridges.org
Top 10 Greatest Losses of 2010Among United States Bridges Documented On HistoricBridges.org |
Bridges With Imminent/Pending DemolitionAmong Bridges Documented On HistoricBridges.org |
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1. Little Church Road Bridge - An 1870s cast and wrought iron bowstring should never be demolished in the 21st Century, much less the third longest span in the country, and unaltered at that. 2. Willis Avenue Bridge - At the time of demolition, this was the only example of a beautiful design of swing bridge in New York, noted for its lattice truss configuration and smoothly curved top chord. 3. Tuscumbia Bridge - This bridge was a spectacular example of a smaller scale cantilever truss bridge, also noted for its common design. 4. New Franklin Viaduct - This was one of the largest, most unaltered, visually attractive, and historically significant concrete bridges in Missouri. 5. Tunnelton Bridge - This highly unusual truss bridge was noted for its hybrid connection design and large span. 6. Kreitz Road Bridge - A beautiful example of a traditional pin-connected Pratt through truss. 7. 5th Avenue Bridge - This multi-span through truss was an excellent example of its kind and regionally noteworthy for its design and size. 8. Clark Road Bridge - This was a visually attractive and largely unaltered pin-connected through truss. 9. Echo Drive Bridge - The last example in the county of Michigan's unique concrete camelback bridge design. 10. Susquehanna Trail Bridge - This multi-span bridge was an unusual and largely unaltered example of a closed spandrel ribbed deck arch bridge. |
Bellaire Bridge - One of the most historically significant cantilever truss bridges on the Ohio River. Unaltered and in excellent condition. Venango Veterans Memorial Bridge - An exemplary and well decorated example of a Wrought Iron Bridge Company through truss. Seneca Bridge- A large multi-span riveted Pennsylvania through truss. Wyoming Bridge - A large multi-span pin-connected Parker through truss. Mt. Carmel - Princeton Free Bridge - One of the longest simple-spanning truss bridges in both Illinois and Indiana.
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Top 10 Threatened Bridges, As of 2010Among United States Bridges Documented On
HistoricBridges.org |
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1. Mead Avenue Bridge - Only in Pennsylvania would an 1871 cast and wrought iron Whipple through truss with Keystone columns even be considered for demolition. 2. San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge Cantilever Spans - The San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge is considered one of the most significant structures in the United States, and this is half of the entire bridge. 3. Milton-Madison Bridge - One of the most unique and historically significant cantilever truss bridges in the United States. 4. Bridgeport Bridge - The only remaining example of a custom-designed large-scale bridge built by the most prolific pre-1900 bridge builder in the United States, this is a unique ornate structure. 5. Halsted Street North Branch Canal Bridge - This was one of the first generation bascule bridges in Chicago, which are the oldest and rarest of the city's vast collection of historic movable bridges. It is one of four first generation bascules remaining in the whole county. 6. Miller Station Road Bridge - A cast and wrought iron Whipple through truss with ornate portal bracing. 7. Charleroi-Monessen Bridge - A landmark size pin-connected Pennsylvania through truss, and over 100 years old. 8. Ironton-Russell Bridge - One of the oldest cantilever highway truss bridges on the Ohio River, and in truth the country as a whole. 9. Fort Steuben Bridge - One of the few remaining suspension bridges on the Ohio River. 10. Pond Eddy Bridge - In a beautiful setting, a spectacular and rare example of a multi-span Pennsylvania through truss. |
The end of 2010... the end of a decade... is a good time to look across the entire history of HistoricBridges.org, which began in 2003, and pick the top ten greatest losses since its founding.
Top 10 Greatest Losses, 2003-2010Among United States Bridges Documented On
HistoricBridges.org |
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1. Little Church Road Bridge - An 1870s cast and wrought iron bowstring should never be demolished in the 21st Century, much less the third longest span in the country, and unaltered at that. 2. Parshallburg Bridge - One of less than a handful of Thacher truss bridges in the entire country. 3. Ulster Bridge - This was one of the longest simple-span truss bridges in the state and region, and its span configuration was unique. 4. Wadhams Road Bridge - One of only three multi-span concrete camelback bridges in Michigan when demolished, this bridge was unaltered and in excellent structural condition. 5. Blue Rock Road Bridge - An extremely significant pin-connected truss, this was the longest simple truss span demolished between 2003 and 2011. 6. Foxburg Bridge - A unique double-deck truss that greatly contributed to the heritage and beauty of its surroundings. 7. Lake Champlain Bridge - One of the oldest examples of an arch cantilever truss in the country. 8. North Avenue Bridge -- This was one of the first generation bascule bridges in Chicago, which are the oldest and rarest of the city's vast collection of historic movable bridges. 9. Pomeroy-Mason Bridge - Many historic cantilever truss bridges were demolished, but this was one of the oldest and largest. 10. Shanley Road Bridge - Pristine natural setting, historic integrity, and variety of design in the spans made this an exemplary bridge. |
This final section is a simple list of "honorable mention" bridges which were found during the identification of the top ten lists.
Other Noteworthy Bridges on HistoricBridges.org Demolished in 2010
Pennsylvania Turnpike Allegheny River Bridge
Military Street Railroad Overpass
Significant Bridges Remaining At Risk
