Halls Creek Bridge
Description
Listed in NBI as being built in 1950, but other indications, plus the park's plaque, state a 1902 construction date.Essay
Written by Zachary SThis bridge was built in 1902 across Turkey Creek near Pinson on Blountsville Road, along the route to Tapawingo Springs, an early 20th century attraction in Jefferson County. In 1975 it was moved to its current location, over Mill (Cooley) Creek, where it carries one-way traffic into the park. It enjoys some degree of preservation amongst the other historic structures the park offers. It will likely be around for a long time to come.
Facts
- Overview
- Pratt through truss bridge over Halls Creek in Tannehill State Park
- Location
- Jefferson County, Alabama
- Status
- Open to one-way traffic into Tannehill State Park parking lot
- History
- Built 1902, relocated to current site in 1975
- Design
- Pratt through truss
- Dimensions
-
Length of largest span: 80.1 ft.
Total length: 141.1 ft.
Deck width: 13.1 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 14.6 ft.
- Also called
- Tapawingo Bridge
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +33.25745, -87.06257 (decimal degrees)
33°15'27" N, 87°03'45" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/494172/3679829 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- McCalla
- Average daily traffic (as of 2016)
- 70
- Inventory numbers
- AL 3622 (Alabama bridge number)
BH 36067 (Bridgehunter.com ID) - Inspection report (as of November 2016)
- Overall condition: Fair
Superstructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 22.9 (out of 100)
View more at BridgeReports.com
Update Log
- September 30, 2014: New photos from Zachary S
- July 9, 2014: New photos from Andrew Raker
- August 6, 2013: Updated by Clark Vance: Added categories "5-panel truss", "Wooden deck", "Pin-connected"
- July 30, 2013: Essay added by Zachary S
- July 11, 2013: Updated by Zachary S: Two sources hint at 1902 date, more in line with its appearance, so for now will put 1902 as date till disproven
- June 18, 2010: New photos from Justin Crocker
Comments
Confirmed 1902 build date, the park has a sign detailing the history of the bridge. Will upload some photos I took later.
It does seem far more in line with its appearance, and very similar bridges in the area, so I agree, I do figure the references got the age about right. I'll actually be in Tannehill a few weeks from now if all goes according to plan and will check it out in person to see if I can get more insight, then I'll hopefully be able to update the probable build date for a more precise one, haha.
I think that's a good date for this bridge ZS.
According to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35547288@N00/6116159472/
and
http://www.tannehill.org/activities.html
and cross-checking as being the only major truss bridge I could find in Tannehill according to Google Earth the build date appears to be 1902, and it was relocated from Turkey Creek near Pinson on Blountsville Rd in 1975 - IF this is the same bridge as listed in the links above! It looks virtually identical in the photos, and of course both have the modern wooden railings all along the deck.
The circa date given for this bridge is likely when it was renovated or relocated. With pinned connections and latticed portals, it is much older than that. Probably ca.1900 or earlier.
a few pictures..
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/al/jefferson/3622/
Serious flooding in Tannehill after the weekend's series of storms rolled through. At least one campground underwater, and according to local news, many of the small pedestrian bridges washed out. Not sure of the status of this, the only actually notable historic bridge in the park, but will check again sometime and see if it's mentioned.