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florida. This bridge is currently closed and being replaced. The anticipated completion date of construction is November 2013.
I saw the pictures of the railroad bridge over the amelia river. Nice shots. How did the bridge tender get to the bridge to turn it for rail traffic. Thanks
This bridge is subject for replacement by the FDOT, project currently scheduled for letting on 5/22/13.
I goofed on the last post and didn't get the pictures sent correctly. Here they are circa 1925'
Bill
I'm in the process of digitizing all my fathers old negatives and just finished all the ones from Ellaville when he built the bridge there in 1925 or so. Here are a few to show you how it looked being built.
I can't be sure, but the railing panels are similar to other Luten bridges I have seen.
Wondering if this is a Luten Arch Bridge. There are 3 other Lutens within walking distance of this bridge, but this bridge does not have any NBI data or a plaque to help.
I would love to see this bridge restored but It will have to be a pipe dream.I am afraid it will be torn out someday.
My father Homer (Bill), was an engineer for the Florida DOT and did a lot of work on this bridge. He was on the old bridge when the barge ran into the span. He was part of the rescue effort, yelling down to boats attempting to rescue survivors or recover bodies.
He had terrible dreams the rest of his life concerning this terrible accident and he had trouble with his vocal cords, after having yelled down to the rescue boats.
We also liked to fish off the old bridge and we caught many fine fish.
MODERNE/NON HISTORIQUE!
MODERNE/NON HISTORIQUE!
The CSX/CSXT argument pops on on Bridgehunter often. Perhaps I can provide a diplomatic comment. The reporting mark may indeed be CSXT but the big name that you see painted on the engines is simply "CSX" and furthermore, if you visit the company website, they have a map and their tracks are called the "CSX Rail Network" in the legend. Perhaps this is like the Interstate highway system in Pennsylvania. The signs say "I-80" but the internal PennDOT designation and the marking on segment markers is SR-80.
My thought is that people who know what CSXT is probably also know what CSX Railroad refers to, but CSXT might confuse the general public who don't even know what a reporting mark is.
'CSX Transportation' is the proper name of the freight rail subsidiary of the CSX Corporation, hence the reporting mark 'CSXT' found on all CSX locomotives and rolling stock.
great photos!
I like how Google has the bridge labeled as a heritage trail despite the fact it looks nearly impossible as a "trail" :p
Bob,
The main reason for usage of drawbridges in these locations is that for high bridges, longer approaches are required, which there is no room for in these tight areas.
Are you an engineer, Bob? Didn't think so.
When next you rebuild it for God's sake build it way higher to reduce the need for openings!!!!!!
When you re-build it for God's sake build it way higher to reduce the need for openings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Robin:
There were more than 3 women on this job. I worked for Paschen Contractors who did the main span. My name then was Brenda Leftwich, (I've since remarried). There was a woman named Amy that operated a tower crane. There were several other women that did various jobs. I don't remember a Robin. Maybe you worked for a different company that did not work on the main span. I worked there from 1984 to late 1986 and my first husband also worked there during that time. Robin, do you have any photos of yourself there? Maybe that would ring a bell. I do have photos but I will need to scan them in.
That would probably apply to the approach bridges, but the causeway itself dates back to 1934.
The information shown is incorrect. The bridge described here
was replaced in 1974
I think RE is pretty much spot on with his assessment.
The light eyebars hanging down for the first set of verticals suggest a pin-connected truss is what we have here. I would say that ca.1900 is indeed a good guess and that this span likely isn't older than 1915 at the latest.
Not many truss bridges in the Sunshine State, so this is a nice find!
I would say it looks like a bridge that would have been built for automobiles, probably around the year 1900.
Does anyone know the date of construction for this bridge? Was it a rail bridge?
The "piers" in the photo are the foundations for the rotary coal car unloader that the L&N installed in 1927. This equipment rotated railroad coal cars so their contents could flow down into a hopper then be sent onto ships through chutes. At the time it was the most modern coal unloader in the world. The unloader was about the only part of the wharf left after the fire in 1955.
This old reliable bridge is the way old timers escape downtown to beat the Driday traffic. With the Republican Convention in August Tampa's other two downtown bridges will be a mess of security and slodowns. Cass Street will be how people go home to beautifult South Tampa. Bridge goes between the huge Performing Arts Center and Library. Across the street it passes the U of Tampa baseball stadium and Tampa Prep.
The feature intersected is Choctawhatchee River
Here in Iowa, the DOT has a handy map of the railroads, active (listing which railroads utilize the trackage) and abandoned (listing which decade the line was abandoned).
From now on whenever I add a railroad bridge, I will just call it "bridge, railroad". I can let the railfans on here fight it out...
I now have an app that monitors this website, that notifies me whenever the term "CSX Railroad" is changed. It changes it back because it is the correct term, then emails me to let me know it is changed back. Saves me a lot of time. Thank goodness for technology!
http://home.mchsi.com/~jerrym151/Continued/SouthernStates3.htm
may have one or more photos of this structure.
Having recently purchased & eagerly awaiting our new home to be built, I plan to spend MANY a year gazing lovingly at this old structure which I will be able to see from our back deck. We've already walked it quite a few times. Our dogs enjoy peering thru it's sides at the water below and beyond. Maybe, after countless footfalls across it's aging yet sturdy back, it'll let me in on a few of it's secrets. Someday...... someday.
Most likely because, at that point in time, most sailing ships either used sails of were powered by a motor and had large smokestacks that would have likey hit and damaged the bridge. That's just a theory though.
Does anyone know why it was used as a rotating bridge? Why not just have a solid bridge installed?
They are indeed skewed to match the angle of the canal--I noticed it when I was photographing it but failed to mention it here...
I agree, the lift towers do appear to be on a skew in photo #5.
The Chandler Bridge here in Oregon is a vertical lift bridge similar to this one. It has a fairly large skew on the lift span in order to align with the shipping channel.
Is it just me, or is this bridge skewed to align with the canal?
I use to live next to this bridge & would walk across the crossties at age 3. Mr. Clement lived across the track & was the bridge tender.
I use to live next to this bridge & would walk across the crossties at age 3. Mr. Clement lived across the track & was the bridge tender.
An old photo my grand mother,first ant & uncle taken during the building of this bridge. She was born Aug 21 1900 and her nick name was Pete !
View attachment #1 (PC bitmap, Windows 3.x format, 1242 x 801 x 24, 2986182 bytes)
Right or wrong, I have always just called them CSX. That's what it says on their engines. See: http://cmpakarlsen.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/csx5502.jpg
It's just CSX, while the full company name is CSX Transportation CSXT is primarily used as reporting marks (the railroad initials usually above the road number and other data on the side of a rail car.) on rail cars due to the fact that in terms of railroad reporting marks an X suffix indicates a private (shipper owned) owned car.
Was the Fort Lauderdale Commercial Bridge ever closed (in the 80s) for a period of two years?
Funding is an issue with the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. Many spans are still in a state of decay, with gaps or sections missing intentionally, a possible fear of liability. This bridge had a tree growing on it until it blew over taking with it a section of deck.
I took pictures of this bridge and the nearby Hook Street Bridge today. Both of these bridges are movable but are apparently no longer in service, driven home by the fact that in between these beautiful truss bridges, which are only hundreds of yards apart, is a very ugly modern beam footbridge, same height as the others, but definitely not movable.
I love this place. I remember going on my first date and dancing on this bridge under the moon with music playing from my car. Too bad we didn't have the stars then. Best night of my life, although this place is quite eerie at night.
According to the time span thing on Google Earth this bridge seems to be recently relocated here as a historical preservation project of some kind. Any info as to where this bridge originally came from and any info about this bridge would be helpful.
I sometimes need to contact the bridge tender via land line, especially late in the wee hours of the night but I can't locate a phone list for bridges. Can you direct me in the right direction?
I have moved from Minnesota to Palm Beach County, Florida, and went to visit this bridge tonight. I was amazed to find out that this small through truss bridge is actually a swing bridge! Additionally, the gearing is intact, in great shape, and still appears to be used from time to time. The bridge is beautiful and in decent condition with little surface rust and no damaged members. I took pictures with my I-phone, but I have no computer and can't upload them just yet.
That bridge has been closed for years when they re-routed 129.
History/Background
The Platt Street Bridge in downtown Tampa was constructed in 1926 at a cost of $400,000. The Platt Street Bridge, as well as the Cass Street Bridge, were designed by the Strauss Bascule Bridge Company, which also designed the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. At 518 feet long, it serves as a vital link between South Tampa and the downtown business core. In 2006, the bridge was granted a historic designation.
Construction Project
A complete rehabilitation of the Bridge is required as it has outlived its normal useful life span and needs to be upgraded to current standards. The major repairs include the reconditioning/replacement of mechanical bridge elements, replacement of the electrical bridge control system, replacement of the bridge roadway deck grating, structural concrete and steel repairs, painting of the bridge structure, and tender house repairs.
Schedule
The project will proceed in three phases:
Phase 1 (which started in January 2011) - one lane will be closed for approximately the first four months of the project on the north (left) side of the bridge with an additional intermittent lane closure as necessary
Phase 2 - one lane will be closed on the south (right) side of the bridge for the following approximately four months with an additional intermittent lane closure as necessary
Phase 3 - in October, the bridge will close entirely for 105 days to allow the contractor to open the drawbridge and perform replacement work on its components
The full project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2012. The total budget for the project is $13.8 million, of which $11.4 million will be funded by Community Investment Tax proceeds. The remainder is coming from federal grants.
When the work is completed, the Bridge will be restored to its original functionality and historical appearance.
Yes, as the previous poster notes, this info woefully outdated. The totally rebuilt bridge and causeway now carries a $6 toll for two-axle vehicles.
Upon further investigation, if you study the surroundings of both bridges in question, the pictures of the bridge we posted are, in fact, of the Main Street Bridge. The photo of the plaque was the only incorrect photo in this bunch. Also, if you study the bridge itself, the bridge in the photos posted in no way resembles the Orange Avenue bridge. The Main Street Bridge is a straight span with a small bascule and the Orange Avenue bridge has a slight curve in the Eastern approach with a longer bascule. Also, missing from this collection of photos of the Main Street Bridge is the courthouse in the background. The courthouse can quite easily be seen in photos of the Orange Avenue bridge to the West.
Those little stars are adorable. Wonder if they glow in the dark...
When was this bridge built?
RIP to everyone who died that day...
Let peace be with your families
Admittedly, I did not expect to find a truss bridge at Disneyworld but hey, this is a nice surprise. Based on some of the latest bridge news, it just might end up being the world's only remaining truss bridge someday...Then all pontists can truly call Disneyworld "the happiest place on earth"
Well, the bridge is actually used as a swing bridge.
In the 1990's, I was part of the team that designed the sternwheeler LIBERTY BELLE II, which runs in the lagoon next to the bridge. Surrounding the park, hidden from view, is a large industrial area where WDW services their equipment, including a small shipyard to service the various ferryboats and excursion boats in the park. It was here where the LIBERTY BELLE was built.
The shipyard is a couple of lakes away from the lagoon, and is accessed via a canal with a navigation lock. When the LIBERTY BELLE is moved out of the lagoon for service, it passes through this swing bridge (used for a railroad ride), the navigation lock and a bascule service road bridge on a canal to the lakes.
The attached images are from Google Earth.
Who would have thought Disney World had a riveted truss bridge?
Anyone's input that can discuss the validity of the history of the bridge suggested below would be welcomed.
http://www.burnsland.com/disneyrailroads/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2454&start=10
http://www.burnsland.com/disneyrailroads/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2454&start=10
Are fines in order for boat request openings if
they do not need a opening. If boat could pass under if ant. or outriger were fold in down positions ?
I live close to P G A bridge and wait many time for a boat demaning a opening because they did not lower their either ant. or outriggers or both. ????????????
Unfortunately no preservation efforts have been made. It has been sitting in this position, untouched since the 1920's. At one point there was the idea to use it as a normal traffic bridge, but no efforts towards that have been made either.
This is an example of what would be good Section 106 mitigation. If you are going to demolish a historic bridge, at least salvage some of the original material for display.
Does this count as "half" a bridge?
Have any preservation efforts been initiated?
I am making a music video with the song "South of Jewfish Creek" by the Key Lime Pie Band. How can I get any photo's of the old bridge..aNY HELP WOULD BE GREAT.
Spansaver agrees with Spanfan......
Pic #2 is absolutely beautiful!
The new bridge at this location was built in 1986 so logic would dictate the old bridge being abandoned around that same time, considering the old road goes nowhere.
This 1973 photo also captures the Suwannee River at a historic flood stage. The Suwannee is almost touching the base of the bridge. At normal levels the river is 20-30 feet below the bridge.
All I can say is wow! This may be one of the oldest and most important historic bridges in Florida. If it was moved in 1899, think how old it may be in reality.
Excellent catch!
The bridge built in 1971 has been replaced. Second of two new spans opened in 2010.
I was looking thru historical photo's of Hammond,Indiana today,which is in the county where I have lived all my life.
I spotted a Scherzer rolling lift bridge in north Hammond.It was still being used in the photo from 1958.It had gone out of use by the early 60's,as I recall.Traffic on the Calumet river had ceased due to industrial change's in the area.
I stopped one day to look at the "gear" section which still remained after the the road had been paved solid over the bridge.
Such old,remaining evidence's of past activity alway's give me a sort of "ghostly" feeling.I had worked at Inland Steel back then and had certain regard for large structure's made of steel.
My father had worked on a Standard Oil Company Of New York(SOCONY Vacuum) tanker many year's back.He had likely passed under that bridge on the way to the local Standard refinery.
Still busy up here.-----Model railroading is a hobby of mine,so I have studied many bridge type's.
Merry Christmas----I have a web site at SKYTRAINZASTRON with some speculative "archaeology" which you find interesting.---
Way back in 1959 or 1960 I was a wee little lad and was fascinated with draw bridges. We were on a Sunday drive and my dad pulled over so I could explore. I met the bridge tender. His name was "Carol" and he allowed me to operate the draw bridge from start to finish. We came back many times and my mother would make pound cake for Carol. He was very nice to me.
State law prohibits such adventure. I will always remember the PVB.
FDOT should be proud. Looks like a fine structure was preserved.
I built that bridge in 2007-08 in holiday fl. and shipped it to miami. please change the condition overview.
Thank's wmg
The Sharps Ferry Bridge was moved from state raod 40 to its location now when the bridge for the bardge canal was built.
The original Sharps Ferry Bridge was A Wooden Bridge.
Based on Google Street View, I'm not sure this bridge is "Open"... it appears to be closed off...
MY FATHER, ATWILL REED HUTCHINGS WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR KANSAS CITY BRIDGE CO., FOR THIS PROJECT.
WE MOVED TO PANAMA CITY IN 1957 TO START THIS PROJECT.
WE LEFT PANAMA CITY WHEN IT WAS COMPLETED IN 1959.
THE OLD ORIGINAL BRIDGE WAS LEFT UP FOR PEOPLE TO FISH FROM.
THIS IS A PHOTO OF ATWILL REED HUTCHINGS
THANKS, ROBERT REED HUTCHINGS
The HISTORIC Fuller Warren Bridge was a troublesome bascule bridge. It was replaced by the current span and no longer moves.
http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/jacksonville/
How is this bridge movable? Is it a swing bridge?
Better known as "Alva Bridge"
Tim Fitch
As you are probably aware the Sanibel Drawbridge is no more.
A new causeway has replaced the old span.
Vertical clearance is 80 feet.
I was one of the last operators of the bridge and am now operating the Big Carlos Pass Bridge two days a week.
Tim Fitch
Last time I drove through here, a new bridge had been built. Don't remember if the old bridge was torn down yet or what, but there was construction going on in the area
This was torn down in 2004 - a new high rise bridge now takes its place.
I was the only female Concrete Batchman (womyn) and maybe the 1st of maybe 3 women on the whole job...( the rest were boat operators or QC ) I batched all the concrete on the main pier foundations on the Skyway back in 1984.( Right Mikey?) The job was bid at 6 million and we built a floating batch plant at a cost of 3 million. We had to run around this barge the size of a football field and hit this batch plant with hammers to keep it running!We built an 180 ton Ammonia Ice Plant on it ( cause we couldnt add water) it had 4 and 6 yard mixers and 2 portland tankers on the back. Boy, could I tell some stories!!! The BEST Job I was EVER Proud to be a part of! Email me if you also worked there during the first part of the job, on the main pier foundations. Like Bigfoot Dave...or Jim Norton?
"There's 3 ways of Building this Bridge " we were told...
"The Right way... The Wrong Way.. and THE HARDAWAY!!! "
Bwwwwaaaaaa!! ....Robin
Here's some info on it.
In June, 1982, construction began on this 4 mile, 6.4 km. bridge across Tampa Bay, Florida. The main span cable-stayed structure, with a precast deck superstructure, was designed by Figg & Muller, the approaches were designed by the Florida Dept. of Transportation. This massive bridge was equipped with a bridge protection system, designed by Parsons Brinkerhoff. This protection system was developed to withstand an impact from an 87,000-ton tanker traveling at 10 knots.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge has a main span of 1200 ft., 365.7 m. and a vertical clearance of 193 ft., 58.8 m.. Completed in April, 1987, at a construction cost of approximately $245 million, the bridge safely carries four lanes of traffic (20,000 cars a day) back and forth from Pinellas County (St. Petersburg) to Manatee County.
Project Update:
As of 4-24-01
One of the 53 6 vertical steel tendons that hold together the bridge's 76 hollow pillars has failed from corrosion, and inspectors have discovered potentially harmful rust on several others. For more information click here. ( or copy and paste...
You have this bridge located in Miami-Dade. It's in Pinellas county. Originally a hopkins frame, converted to hydraulic cylinders in late 1980's.
I have pictures of us travelling over the section that collapsed while on a family vacation in the 1970's. I remember going back in 1985 and seeing the original bridge handling two way traffic just as it did when it was built. As expected, traffic was heavy, commute was slow, and fares were very high. Driving past the collapsed area was surreal when you realized how far all those folks had fallen. They were in the process of building the replacement bridge at that time and I have a photo of that as well. Perhaps soon I can scan them all and include them in this site.
I also have a book detailing the disaster somewhere in my collection. Sad thing is the fog the morning it happened. Those that went over the edge never had a chance to see it coming. One car managed to stop right at the edge on a section that was hanging at a 45 degree tilt. One of the idiots from that car had the balls to go back to the car after evacuating so he could retrieve his golf clubs out of the trunk. Unreal. The Greyhound bus was smashed and looked like it had broke it's back with it's frame bent. I believe the only survivor was in a Chevy El Camino.
I did a blog post on the Royal Park Bridge linking West Palm Beach, FL, to Palm Beach, FL, at
http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/2009/04/19/a-new-look-at-the-royal-park-bridge/
Bridge is NOT closed. It was rehabilitated in 2005 and carries traffic today.
Photos taken 03/29/2009
This is a site devoted to historic bridges. The criterion that I have heard the most for "how old is historic?", is around 50 years. Now some cases can be made for spans that are not quite this old, but this bridge (although unique) would not be considered historic. Some bridges do get posted on this site simply because they are bridges, and not because they are historic.
That being said.....I would recommend that anyone wanting information on this bridge should contact the Pinellas County, Florida or the Tampa-St.Pete Tourism Bureau and they should be able to direct you.
Thanks
MORE INFO
The photos posted with this page are of the wrong bridge - the photos are of the "Orange Avenue Bridge" not the "Main Street Bridge." I live in Daytona Beach, I know what they look like.
This bridge was renamed the "Veterans Memorial Bridge" in 1959. Connects Orange Avenue on the west bank, Silver Beach Avenue on the east bank. First bridge at this location was built in 1899, connecting "Daytona" with "Daytona Beach" (two separate cities at the time).
The southbound span of the original bridge (the one built in 1969) was destroyed on May 9, 1980, when the freighter MV Summit Venture collided with a pier (support column) during a storm, sending over 1200 feet (366m) of the bridge plummeting into Tampa Bay. The collision caused six automobiles and a Greyhound bus to fall 150 feet (46 m), killing 35 people.[7][8]
One man, Wesley MacIntire, survived the fall when his pickup truck landed on the deck of the Summit Venture before falling into the bay
The local name of this bridge is the Beckett Bridge
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