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This beautiful and impressive bridge forms a beautiful centerpiece and gateway in and out of Healdsburg in a way that no modern bridge could ever hope to do. This bridge was at risk for demolition and replacement, but thankfully through both the support of local citizens and a willingness on the part of officials this bridge is to be rehabilitated for continued vehicular use. The city council deserves to be thanked for choosing to preserve this bridge. As a result of their decision, the bridge will continue to be a safe and functional crossing, that also exhibits both heritage and beauty. The bridge is not only a gateway to the city, but the nearby riverbank appears to be a popular beach site and so many people will be able to continue viewing this bridge during beach visits, rather than being forced to look at an ugly modern slab of concrete which is what a replacement bridge would have looked like.
The bridge is a rare multi-span example of a pin-connected Pennsylvania through truss. Pennsylvania truss bridges are today rare, and they have a particularly complex truss configuration that provides a geometric art that is more intricate than truss bridges with simpler configurations. Despite this intricacy, the design actually was developed to maintain an economical use of materials in longer truss spans while not sacrificing bridge strength. Even as complex as it is, the economic use of materials is apparent even in a simple visual sense. Look at this bridge from a distance to see how it has a lightweight appearance, an indication of this economic materials use.
This bridge is also historically significant for its association with the Redwood Highway, which it was originally built to carry.
This particular bridge is also noted for its excellent historic integrity. The loss of original lighting is the only noteworthy alteration to the bridge. Original lattice railings on the sidewalk remain, the the materials and design of the trusses are unchanged. The bridge rests on original concrete abutments and concrete pier. One thing is missing on the bridge: the American Bridge Company plaque has been broken off of the bridge's end posts. It is worth noting that it would be easy to fabricate a replica because American Bridge Company used standard plaques on its bridges and a mold to cast a replica could be created by using a 1920s American Bridge Company plaque from another bridge.
The trusses of the bridge were built by the prolific American Bridge Company of New York, New York. The on-site contractor for the bridge was A. W. Kitchen of San Francisco, California. The bridge design engineer was J. C. Lewis.
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