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Post a comment Contact webmasterHow current are the photos of Martins Ferry bridge?
Thanks for the link. Those are some interesting photographs.
Hi,
My grandfather was a civil engineer in the 1920s working on a lot of the LA bridges. Not al the photos he has of construction are labelled but you may like them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ladd_halsey/sets/72157632964581204/with/8544405281/
This is a duplicate posting of the existing bridge, Auburn-Forest Hill, in same county.
But this one is made of wood
I would have added it if I could
My previous comment was wrong
This bridge does truly belong
A MOB of such great size
Will make you shield your eyes
Our bodies have such great reflexes
Not everything's bigger in Texas
In this valley, a stench has permeated.
'Tis a MOB the Governator should have terminated!
MODERNE/NON HISTORIQUE!
This is a prime example of a MOB being used where a historic bridge could have been installed.
Does this bridge have any particular significance?
Hey, it's the Palo Alto redwood. One of the most iconic trees in that part of the state; lovely photos of the bridge here as well.
Should information be added about the old wooden trestle that burnt here be added? There are some interesting statistics here - http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/10901-fire-collapses-portion-of-railroad-trestle-in-sacramento/
Nice find.
The demolition of this bridge and replacement with a slab of concrete is deeply disappointing. Even though its not physically connected to the Golden Gate Bridge, it is part of the Golden Gate Bridge project. For proof of this you need not look further than the main plaque for the Golden Gate Bridge, which lists the builder for the "Presido Approach Roads and Viaducts" They are basically demolishing part of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Pot metal is any old junk that can melt at relatively low temperatures. Usually it's a cheap combination of zinc and tin, sometimes there is a bit of aluminum or lead in it. It's used for castings of things that don't need great physical strength, and can have a less than uniform appearance.
Looks like it was made with Lincoln Logs and an Erector Set.
Very cool though!
Cheap, low temp, zinc alloy, good for casting inexpensive parts. Brittle and weak in tension--breaks when bent. Usually slang for any substandard alloy.
What's "pot metal?"
@ Jann, it turns out that Millerick Rd is open and legal, past the Larsen family winery and down to a locked gate in the vineyards with a small parking lot. It is then a mile plus hike across to the bridge. I met one local at the time of my visit who had driven in from the West on the private entrance road. Yes, I have know of this bridge for several years and figured i would never find a way to approach the location. One of my current favorite unusual locations.
Visited bridge and took pictures after two years of talking about it!
Discovered this bridge and have no historical information on the span. BUT the design and the regional location suggest it may be a John B. Leonard engineered bridge. Any new information would be helpful.
Great photos, Craig! How did you get to the bridge - I wasn't sure if any of those roads were open to the public?
This certainly is an interesting find Craig, Good Work!
A fully manual operate lift bridge on active railroad.
Let's discuss where our scrapped bridges end up. Hint: It isn't on these shores. You'd think that perhaps we could reuse the metal for projects here. But the truth is most winds up in the same place that brings us cheap pot metal products we find on Wal-mart shelves. And the USA loses again.
You see right there. The only reason you want their name is to threaten violence. You can't win on the merits of your argument so you threaten violence. The minute you do that you've admitted defeat. Why couldn't you simply chime in and support patriotic leanings instead of somehow justifying the use of Chinese steel in our nation's infrastructure? Let's leave this topic alone and get back to admiring bridges.
It's good to see a city take pride in a historic bridge and go to such efforts to preserve it.
I was told by two Port of Stockton police officers that not only this abandoned bridge, but the open highway next to it were all owned by the Port of Stockton and were private property with photography forbidden. I was fortunate to have already taken some photos at this point, but if anyone tries to visit this bridge, you should be aware of this.
Please combine these photos with the original page for this bridge.
Now isn't that just like a bunch of guys-if we weren't on the Internet, the fists would be flying. Now, if it was women, we'd say nice things about you, but then talk about you behind your backs.
(this is all tongue-in-cheek BTW-just to lighten the mood :)
The map location for this POC is wrong. The location shown is for some kind of water pipe crossing the river. The footbridge's actual location is NORTH of Hyperion Ave/Glendale Blvd, at about 34.116006, -118.267835
One of the CCC builders of this bridge has vivid memories of every aspect of the building process. He was honored at the dedication ceremony for his contributions. He, like this bridge, is a living testament to beautiful craftsmanship and pride in hard work!
There are indeed contract provisions requiring American Steel on highway contracts. I don't work in California, so I'm not familiar with their policies, but the law itself does exist. You may want to look into what excuse they came up with to try and circumvent the requirements.
The Republican-Democrat debate has nothing to do with this. Both parties are equal opportunity liars and thieves who'd sell out you the citizen who pays the bill at any time for any price.
I've noticed that those who turn these discussions into politically biased bash sessions also don't have the jewels to put their names with their air-headed comments! As I mentioned before, I AM Republican, but that certainly doesn't mean that I support Chinese steel, and that certainly doesn't make me anti-American! Obama is about as anti-American as they get--last time I checked, he was a DEMOCRAT! See? Doesn't make sense at all, does it?? This has absolutely ZERO to do with politics, and everything to do with the interests of America! Get a brain, and use it before posting!
Why do you take offense if you aren't the one who supported Chinese steel being used? The fact is they should have passed a LAW saying that the steel and labor had to come from America. That bridge should be ONE-HUNDRED PERCENT Made In USA. Period. If you support the use of Chinese steel then yes you are an anti-American republican. Typical.
On the day that they open that atrocity I'm going to be among the protesters protesting it being Made In China.
Well said Matt. Unfortunately, so folks just automatically blame all problems on the political opposition, because they have no critical thinking skills. Josef Stalin called them "useful idiots".
Inaccurate stereotype--I'm a heartless Republican, and I hate the new bridge. This has nothing to do with partisan politics, and everything to do with common sense. Anyone with half a functioning brain cell can see right off the bat that this project is as poorly planned out and executed as it could possibly be, with the best interests of America not even considered.
Why don't you go live in communist China if you love it so much. You must be a heartless republican.
IMO, the new bay bridge was “designed by politicians” and political considerations were more important than sensible engineering. The replacement span was originally supposed to be a "signature" cable stay and there were even other proposed alternatives that looked better than the actually-built new bridge, but the politicians, namely gov Arnold Schwarzenegger, "terminated" the signature cable-stay design for the cheap Chinese alternative. Heck, when Schwarzenegger was governor he actually visited the Chinese factory where components for the bridge were being built.
Sorry, but I sharply disagree on all of Anon's points--not to be critical, but to simply point out that this could have been executed far better than it is with this project...first, as Nathan pointed out, one side of one deck section came loose--pretty darn good for an earthquake that did substantial damage to most newer structures! Two large pins (or bolts) sheared off; that's it. No structural damage to the superstructure at all. I predict that this will be a huge issue with the cable support bolts on the new slab, since new bolts have already broken on it, and it's not even open yet. They're quick to blame US bolts, I've noticed, BTW...New bridges are probably mostly bad architecture, but the old bridges that we on this site favor are straight-up civil engineering--every member not only looks good, but serves a critical structural purpose. New bridges cannot make that claim. As for the steel comment, if the US couldn't produce the steel for one lousy bridge project, then we'd be in serious trouble...issue is, we couldnt match China's low prices--and refused to match their ultra-low quality. If Caltran want to pay cruddy steel prices, then they'll get cruddy China steel. I see what is constantly happening to China's new bridges in their own country--collapse after collapse; shoddy workmanship and design, and shoddy material. Sorry, a "Made in China" MOB is something that I will never understand and refuse to support. Ok, I'm done.
Living on solid ground here in Michigan I don't claim to be an expert on seismic issues relating to bridge preservation. Its not an area I specialize in. One of the many things I don't understand is why the lacing and lattice and rivets was seen as such a problem with this bridge, especially when many other bridges in the area including Golden Gate Bridge, retain these elements. Furthermore, while I don't dispute that the bridge as-built may be a risk with earthquakes, the section that collapsed in the previous earthquake was just a deck section. While serious, this seemed to me to be more a problem with the deck sections, not with the overall truss itself which was not damaged.
I don't understand the hatred on this site towards the replacement project. The old bridge is not safe. It will collapse in a major earthquake - it almost did in 1989, and studies show that there is a 70% chance of an earthquake large enough to destroy the bridge in the next 30 years.
The only alternative to replacement is a major retrofit which would include the replacement of almost every single member, just like the suspension span. ALL the lacing would be removed and replaced with plate girders or box beams. ALL the rivets would be removed and replaced with bolts. The appearance would be radically altered and little historic material would survive.
Bridges are architecture - which according to our Roman friend Vitruvius must be solid, useful, and beautiful. The old bridge doesn't hold up here. I am all for historic preservation when it is possible to create safe, useful, and attractive architecture out of existing structures but it simply isn't possible in this case.
On the Chinese steel point: American companies were welcome to bid. None of them did. ALL of the bids came from overseas. That may say something about our economy, but it's not the bridge designer's fault that the US isn't capable of producing the needed materials.
Things could be much worse: the people of San Francisco rejected a viaduct approach which was a two mile long ugly concrete bridge for a "signature span". The self-anchored suspension bridge, while not what I consider optimal, is at leas an interesting technology and much better than what could have happened.
Sounds like the new bridge might be "fracture critical".
Not only will this project result in the demolition of half of one of the most significant built structures in the history of the United States, the replacement bridge is a piece of junk. Like buying a bridge from the bargain bin at Walmart.
Repair and replace by another company please!
This pisses me off.
Wow, if the bolts are so important and SO hard to reach after other segments have been installed around them, WHY wouldn't they do a quality audit BEFORE they install them?
It could take 7 years and cost $240 million to tear down the old Bay bridge cantilever span after the new replacement span is opened to traffic this fall.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/03/13/demolition-of-old-bay-bridge-to-take-years/
And the new replacement span is having problems too since 30 of the 288 giant bolts holding together the new bridge span have snapped.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Bay-Bridge-inspections-busted-bolts-4386943.php
The span is still looking for a new home while the new bridge piers are coming in. Of course the old span cant stay because it is upstream and might pose. A hazard. I get tired of the risk management they choose to enforce but what can one girl do. Found out that it is very little. Oh well.
The bridge was rebuilt in late 2012 and yesterday when I was there, it was looking beautiful. Everyone needs to check it out.
We were happy to locate a pic of the barely seen old bridge. We now have a close view of it from your great picture!
Nancy & Matt
For future reference: the categories "rail-to-road" & "one lane traffic" have been added because, for a period in the mid-1960s, this bridge was pressed into service as a one lane road bridge whilst the highway 49 bridge was being rebuilt after being washed out. The bridge didn't have a guardrail, which made crossing somewhat hairy. This is where the common name, "No-Hands Bridge" came from.
The Uglybridges link for this bridge is called Winding Road over Kings River. Isn't that a different bridge? How far apart are they?
What is the name of the other bridge in Photo #1?
New article about upcoming demolition:
These bridges have now been named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places" for 2012. See http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/11-most-endangered/locations/bridges-of-yosemite-valley.html
The imagery isn't great, but it seems to exist in Google Earth from 1995 until March 11, 2004. The March 13, 2005 imagery appears to show both approaches washed away. I'm guessing a spring flood breached the road on both sides in early 2005.
That assumption led me to this:
http://www.followscamp.com/Page4.html
"Some reports had this bridge as having been washed out.
Actually, it wasn't. Only the bridge's road approach ramps were
washed away exactly as they were engineered to do to relieve the
flood pressure against the bridge. What is shown in the above
photograph was carefully preplanned."
and
"(Camp's fire Chief Jim Lewis) said it'll take about $1.5 million to restore the campgrounds.
— San Gabriel Valley Tribune 1/28/05"
So, it was the main entrance to the defunct Follows Camp campground, the grounds of which were pretty much sent downriver that January.
Don
The bridge does not show up until the 2003 photo on Historicaerials.com. It appears to be related to the mining operations in Fish Canyon.
The Pacific Crest Trail is routed across this bridge.
That bridge is one of two "Summer" bridges in the Guerneville area. In the winter, it is removed and the spans placed across the roadway to the north, near the intersection with River Road.
Great site!
What year was it constructed?
This county seems so completely covered, I was surprised I did not find this bridge listed. Hope I didn't miss something. Anyway, this is a railroad bridge in use for pedestrians. It is claimed to be "beyond repair" and is to be demolished and replaced. http://www.arcataeye.com/2012/12/hammond-bridge-is-close-to-falling-down-december-30-2012/
Great photos, Craig.
Anything more on this one's status?
This video focuses on the positive side of the suicide problem that plagues this bridge. It's called "Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge," and tells the story of a patrolman who has saved many lives here.
If you are a fan of the TV series, Chuck, you will know that the theme is the instrumental version of Cake's Short Skirt/Long Jacket. In the video for their original song Cake members ask the California general public their opinion on the song. At 2:15 of the video one can see a bridge in the background. It is this bridge in Sacramento. And now you see how everything is related.
That's progress for ya!
I visited this tunnel over Thanksgiving Weekend 2012, and the tunnel is now blocked to all traffic and pedestrians. A newly built gate now sits locked just west of the west portal and bridge over the opening, with plenty of "No Trespassing" signs.
we are somewhat involved in Ash Creek. Tricky location for removal with the crane set.
I'm really not sure what is going on here. This appears to be a case of the old farmer saying "I'll take that there bridge." It has sat there for over five years now; maybe the county is trying to find it a home.
I also think Siskiyou County is still trying to find a home for the Ash Creek Bridge if there is an interested party out there. http://www.bridgehunter.com/ca/siskiyou/2C0041/
Is that considered the answer by historical parties or what is going to happen to this one. Pretty cool.
I don't think they're able to be zapped, because the 20+ redundant builder's pages whose names I've changed to things like "twerwgg" are still listed.
Pin isn't where the bridge is as the bridge hasn't existed since a ship collision in 1955.
So it was.... I got the name off the map I linked to in the description. James needs to zap the new category that arose.
Clark, a clarification, the railroad was just called "Pacific Electric"
The bridge pictured and mapped is the much newer span carrying Yorba Linda Blvd. The 1912 bridge, approximately 1 block north, carries Yorba Place. It was the original span through the orange groves.
My favorite ever view. Especially from a grateful dead 18 wheeler......nuce
Here is my picture taken Oct.12, 2012 at 4 PM.
Excellent find and photos, thanks for posting.
Yes to looking things up at the library. You can find quite a bit online, as I did, but I think your best bet may be the map room at the San Jose library. What you really want is the Army or County map for that grid (IIRC it's #18) from around 1940, and the same one from 1900 if you can find it.
Talking to the county government folks can't hurt either. The roads and bridges folks are often their own department, and many - if not most - have records going back a long long time.
OTOH there are several old mines right close to there, and this bridge is neither large nor complex. It is entirely possible that it was made by hand by some guys digging for gold, and then later used by the public perhaps. So there may not be any government record. With the old bridges it's never a sure bet.
Thank you for taking the time to look into this Andrew. It is very much appreciated. Thanks to you and Jason I have learned so much. Next step is visiting both the Nevada and Sierra County libraries and museums. Who knows what I may discover.
After Milton Reservoir was made, and it's pipeline to Bowman Lake, but before Jackson Meadows Reservoir went in (pretty much by damning the end of Pass Creek is my guess), the Henness Pass took a less lofty path SE of Milton Res than it does today. It hooked up with Granitville Road, about where your bridge is. Granitville Road was an extension of what today is called Meadow Lake Road, which meanders all over the place and had several branches back in the day.
Anyway, Henness Pass Road lies North of the headwaters of the Middle Yuba, and Granitville Road comes up South of them, so there has to be a crossing point where two connected. That's your bridge, but then as now, Henness Pass continued off to the East.
See this map:
http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/1621857/Sierra+County+1955c/Sierra+County+1955c/California/
which is only somewhat useful, because your bridge straddled the Sierra/Nevada county lines in 1955 too.
Aside from finding the GPS location of the bridge at 39.513299,-120.556064 on what Google Maps calls Henness Pass Road, and may have once been (the other end connecting to the dead end road a bit to the NW) but now washed out by the damn spillway.
I'd suggest looking at maps of the Yuba-Bear Project, or of Sierra County before 1963.
Your bridge may date back to Gold Rush days, or it may be built of local materials at any point right up to just before the reservoir project. It does not look serious enough to carry the earth moving vehicles necessary to build the damn, and that's my guess as to the why and when of the "new" Henness Pass/ CR S301 extension.
Questions for the forum:
1. Do you have any information pertaining to the bridge
2. Do you know of another bridge that is similar to this one? If so, where is it located and is it still extant?
Read the article and post your thoughts here:
Thanks! JS
I'm not sure about the 1901 date. One of the two short spans has a "1921" plate.
Bridge being demolished this week. Article link posted.
From topo map, no sign of old RR grade and road alignment is too crooked to be former RR.
Looks like a vehicular bridge to me.
The category "railroad" was added to this bridge history. I am curious what historical evidence exists that supports this category classification? The bridge is a narrow and relatively lightweight design located in a region that is not known for a historical rail route. Further evidence requested.
I too remember picknicking at Bidwell's Bar in the 50s. My mother was a nurse at the county hospital and they had a employee's picnic there. I remember seeing beaver in the river. A nice place but the water was sure cold.
I too remember picknicking at Bidwell's Bar in the 50s. My mother was a nurse at the county hospital and they had a employee's picnic there. I remember seeing beaver in the river. A nice place but the water was sure cold.
the condition ratings for the los terrinito bridge seem rather optimistic. photos to follow...
This bridge was open to traffic and did connect Pacific ave. from Venice south to Playa Del Rey. In the early 1960's when Marina Del Rey was constructed, the entrance channel (water way) to the marina was dug through Pacific, and at that time the southbound approach to the bridge was lost. Any pre-1964 Thomas Guide map will show Pacific as a through street.
I know that some places use bird netting to prevent birds from nesting on the bridge. Of course, this is more common in urban areas where people are always under the bridge.
It can't prevent them jumping, but it can catch them! It can also thwart natural selection when idiots decide to cavort on the bridge.
If it stays, that's probably the purpose. It may also indicate that they are about to do some work and want to protect workers. Look again in a few months....
Wouldn't it be nice if they opened this to pedestrians and bikers who want to have the original Route 66 experience?
Yesterday I noticed black nets hanging below the bridge for the first time. To prevent jumpers?
Corrections to the descriptive information.
The Cabrillo Bridge was built in 1914 not 1915.
It was built both for pedestrian and automobile traffic not just pedestrians. Future president of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first person driven over the bridge.
The lat/long indicated on the page is incorrect. The bridge is actually at 34.111248,-118.185162. It really is a nice bridge too. And the oldest in LA, I think.
We have photos! Thanks to Andrew,
http://www.barking-moonbat.com/index.php/weblog/tenacious_as_a_terrier/
and courtesy of Kirby James
http://www.lkjh.org/bike/california/slo/pozo/
Andrew was hunting for the bridge used in a move, found it, then contacted the author of the blog for permission to use his photos.
All I did was upload photos and caption them.
The Wild and Scenic designation for rivers is an extremely hypocritical designation. The stated goals of the Wild and Scenic River Act include the preservation of cultural aspects of the river (like historic bridges) but I have seen this designation repeatedly used as a convenient excuse to demolish and replace historic bridges. This appears to be what is unfolding here.
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