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Market Street Bridge

Chief John Ross Bridge

Market Street Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: October 28, 2006 and November 11, 2014

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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
Market Street (US-27) Over Tennessee River
Location
Chattanooga: Hamilton County, Tennessee: United States
Structure Type
Metal Three-Hinged Braced Ribbed Through Arch, Movable: Double Leaf Bascule (Rolling Lift) and Approach Spans: Concrete Closed Spandrel Deck Arch, Fixed
Rehabilitation Date
2006
Main Span Length
358.8 Feet (109.4 Meters)
Structure Length
1,895.0 Feet (577.6 Meters)
Roadway Width
36 Feet (10.97 Meters)
Spans
1 Main Span(s) and 16 Approach Span(s)
Inventory Number
33SR0080007

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
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Bridge Documentation

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

View Historic Bridge Inventory Sheet For This Bridge

View A Historical Article About This Bridge

This bridge is like a movable monumental bridge, and it is one of the largest bascule bridges ever built. Even when closed, the bridge still offers considerable clearance for boats. The mighty bascule leaves open up to a 45 degree angle. This is not as far as other bascule bridges can open (some can open to near 90 degrees), but given the bridge's high clearance in the closed position, this opening angle was apparently sufficient.

This bridge also is unusual because it is a movable braced ribbed through arch bridge. Most movable bridges feature a truss bridge superstructure or a plate girder superstructure. The bridge also enjoys an incredible amount of local significance as it is the only highway bascule bridge in the entire state, in addition to its high level of national significance for its size and unusual design. Finally, the bridge features impressive a number of large deck arch spans that provide an approach to the structure. This bridge underwent a restoration, and the photos for this bridge were taken while this work was underway. The bridge was closed to all traffic during these renovations.

The bridge's bascule span is a rolling lift bascule bridge designed by the patent holding Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge Company. It was designed with the assistance of noteworthy engineer J. E. Greiner, who had offices in Baltimore, Maryland and Chicago, Illinois. Vang Construction Company of Cumberland, Maryland built the concrete arch approach spans, with  Toledo Bridge and Crane Company of Toledo, Ohio fabricated the bascule span, while Chicago-based Kelly-Atkinson Construction Company, which was noted for its involvement with many Chicago bascule bridges, erected the bascule span.

According to an August 1919 issue of Michigan Architect and Engineer, "The bridge is so designed that in the open position it acts as a double leaf cantilever. In the closed position the dead load is carried as a cantilever, and the live load is carried as a three hinged arm." In other words, when open, the bascule leafs act as cantilever trusses, but when closed, the bridge functions as a three hinged arch. The article also mentions the bridge has 1200 tons of structural steel and 90 tons of machinery and castings. It advertises an opening time of 1.5 minutes and  a total contract price of $170,000.00

Video of the bridge being lowered after a boat passes through in 2015 is available on YouTube.

Above: Photo of bridge in raised position after rehabilitation. Photo courtesy TDOT.

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Photo Galleries and Videos: Market Street Bridge

 

View Photo Gallery

2014 Bridge Photo-Documentation

Original / Full Size Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Photo Gallery

2014 Bridge Photo-Documentation

Mobile Optimized Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Photo Gallery

2006 Bridge Photo-Documentation

A collection of overview and detail photos taken by Dave Michaels. This photo gallery contains a combination of Original Size photos and Mobile Optimized photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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Maps and Links: Market Street 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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