They tore down the bridge today Sept. 9th 2019 in Buchanan Ga.
"All the charm of a prison yard"; "Any enhancement would be trading up on the Forsyth viaduct's sterile look".
I love the writer's eloquence and would like to think that they would appreciate what us bridge preservationists have been dealing with for many years.
I don't mind at all I'm just a contributor. Good catch Melissa.
Doug, I hope you don't mind I made a few updates.
This bridge should have remained standing down from the new bridge as it posed no threat to it.
In response to the comment that any government is "hell bent" on destroying history of this bridge... it was offered at a public hearing to anyone wishing to remove and restore it at another location, but there were no takers.
There is talk in our banks county to tear down our Bailey bridge. We want to keep it as it is quaint and historic. Any thing you can do to help keep it
Would appreciate it.
The location given for this tunnel is incorrect. The coordinates and map location are for the Braswell Mountain Railroad Tunnel which is abandoned and unrestored. https://bridgehunter.com/ga/paulding/braswell-tunnel/
Doomed unless a new owner/location is found:
https://www.wtoc.com/2019/05/01/houlihan-bridge-savannah-bei...
I'm 72 years old and my G Grandfather Dave Miller owned this mill. He acquired it from his wife's relatives, the Hintons. I do recall seeing a large round rock just North of this bridge that was revealed in the late 1950s when the mill pond was drawn down to remove built up sand from the damn area. I watched this being done with a drag bucket and a mule. Anyway, I was told that the area boys would frequently dive from this bridge and, one one occasion,someone broke their neck by diving onto this rock that was just under the surface. Could have been a Carmichael, but I can't remember. Also, My brother James Clark jumped from this bridge in mid-Winter on a dare from me. He almost froze to death before he could get out.
To me, this looks like steel stringer spans with added bracing to give a truss like component, similar to this:
http://bridgehunter.com/mo/st-louis/belgrove-rr/
Would have to see closer photos to be sure though.
This was an exceedingly rare surviving example of a bridge using Kahn type reinforcing, a "trussed" reinforcement that was a very unusual type of reinforcing. A historical article is attached about this bridge. Further information about Kahn can be found here. https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=i...
She's coming down! CIM and Stevens & Wilkinson have been working on renderings. Waiting to see the final, but based on the infrastructure and fact that it doesn't match up with the Mitchell Street Bridge for future rail line improvements it needed to be rebuilt. (Photo by Chris Hrubesh)
Better Bridge Coords: 34°25'11.13"N 84°56'5.29"W
On further topo map research, it appears that this was likely a rail bridge that was later converted to a road bridge before being abandoned completely; when the forest area was owned by the military, a short distance railroad was plotted across this point.
So, apparently, it was both at different times.
Of note is that Ponce de Leon Ave / GA 8 / US 78 / US 23 / US 29 (this road carries a lot of routes) is a four lane arterial road, but the outer two lanes have clearance of less than 10 feet under the bridge. The bridge still gets hit regularly by trucks, and the concrete reinforcement has to be patched up periodically.
This was definitely a road bridge. The road involved isn't named, but shows up at this location on the USGS 250k:1 topo map for Rome, GA in 1955, 1958, and 1961, and even still in the 24k:1 quadrangle for Matt, GA for 1997 (historicalmaps.arcgis.com). This is the same road that connects to North Gate Rd/Sweetwater Rd on the north side of the river.
It's likely that this was originally planned to be part of, or planned to be replaced for, Georgia Highway 318 (now defunct).
GA 318 ran along what is now Dawson Forest Road in the southern area of the forest up until just short of that bridge, visible on the Matt, GA quadrangle. The original road going over this bridge took a little more meandering path than the one currently called Clark Rd. It never officially extended northward onto North Gate Road on the Georgia highway system maps, and that portion of it was decommissioned by 1972. (The number itself was dropped in the mid-1980s.)
Other evidence of association: Part of North Gate Rd in the middle of the forest is paved, with asphalt that looks to be about 1960s in age. Strangely, this segment is not connected to any other paved road. It's likely the Highway 318 project was abandoned at some point, as the current dirt part of North Gate Road meanders a lot more than would be expected for a state highway of the time.
More recent information suggests that the Nelson Street bridge will be replaced for $5 million.
https://atlantaintownpaper.com/2018/09/city-reaches-agreemen...
To be replaced, but that's 2 years gone down:
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/nelson-street-bridge-replaced...
Background: I tried hard to find out when this closed to vehicular traffic, but cannot nail down the actual year. I drove across this many times in 1998-1999 (the first two years I lived inside the city of Atlanta). I can find evidence that it was closed by 2003 and derelict with weeds growing out of it by mid-2004.
Its status is still unclear as of this writing, as it is sometimes closed even to pedestrian traffic, and then quietly reopened again.
Entrance to the North end of the tunnel: 34.743156,-85.334241 Entrance to the South end of the tunnel: 34.738577,-85.333201
What directions are you using to find this
According to what i read in this mornings local paper where I live 30 rail cars derailed on and around this bridge yesterday morning with some cars falling onto GA90.CSX said 4 of the cars held liquefied petroleum gas with no leaks reported.Crews are working to re-rail the cars.There was no mention of any damage to the bridge.
Here are some photos I took last week.
If you choose "replaced" instead of "bypassed" it defaults the bridge as lost.
This bridge is near my in laws house and I drove over it a couple months back. Looks in pretty old and weathered condition but appears functional. I was actually surprised that it was not closed with the new Cloverdale Road alignment so close! Next time I will try to get some pics to upload.
I took this yesterday.
I grew up west of this old bridge from about 1960 through 1970. I remember the older bridge before this one. It was a very creaky old bridge that I could actually hear it creak as the cars went over it. It still gives me the chills just remembering it! Several vehicles had gone over it and turned over into the creek below. When the creek would flood after heavy rainz,it would actually almost disappear.
I think you have this abandoned tunnel confused with the Divide Tunnel: https://bridgehunter.com/ga/paulding/divide-tunnel/
This tunnel has been incorporated as part of the Silver Comet Trail rail trail. The rail line was abandoned in 1980 by CSX, purchased by GA DOT and reopened as the Silver Comet rail trail in late 1998-2001. The tunnel and approaches were excavated and restored, paved with concrete and lighted.
Traffic listed at 490? Per year when it was open maybe.
The page says that the bridge is a Silver Comet bridge. It is NOT a Silver Comet bridge. The Silver Comet Trail is dozens of miles to the south. If this is part of the old Seaboard line that carried the Silver Comet trains, please be more specific. Thank you!
One of my favorite photo spots.
1932 cook map indicates a 700 foot concrete Luten arch on a former alignment of state route #76.
http://vault.georgiaarchives.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/c...
My wife and I were there today. 03/31/18. She had never seen it before and was very impressed with it. I took several pictures of it while we were there. I had no idea it was a railroad tunnel. Very interested.
This is not where Richardson Creek is. This would have been the old Thunderbolt Bridge. There is now the third generation span at this site.
Richardson Creek empties into the Bull River near a bridge across the Bull River further east on U.S. 80.
A combination mystery bridge and newsflyer are enclosed here: http://thebridgehunter.areavoices.com/2018/01/29/mystery-91-...
James, Yes I can confirm this a visitor to my website informed me as well. Here is a news article with six photos. http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/multimedia/last-section-of-...
The remaining span of this bridge has reportedly collapsed into the river.
Just visited this bridge. It looks like the worst of the graffiti on the bridge has been cleaned up.
This was a really neat bridge to visit. It is the oldest and longest covered bridge still in Georgia. It is in a beautiful area and definitely worth the drive to go see it.
I am a filmmaker and was very inspired by the historic Browns Bridge, and upon hearing that it was being torn down, I decided to shoot a film on the location. It will be called "The Point Beyond Madness" and will be available for viewing at my website, www.shutterstinct.com on December 10th, 2017. I'm not sure how many films have been shot at the location but I'm saddened to realize that mine may very well be the last.
Replacement project commencing for all Lake Lanier bridges.
https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/all-lake-lanier-bridge...
Replacement underway, osprey moving to public housing towers.
https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/all-lake-lanier-bridge...
"Officials have said the bridge project has a unique feature: 30-foot towers to accommodate osprey, a bird of prey that likes to make the bridge its summer home."
Contract awarded; the deed will be done by April 2020
https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/all-lake-lanier-bridge...
Ospreys reportedly disappointed in having to build nests elsewhere.
http://www.ajc.com/news/local/cobb-historic-concord-road-cov...
800k being spent to rehab and extend the life of the covered bridge. has made getting around the west side of Smyrna a bit tougher but the bridge will be open in time for Christmas(Dec. 20th I believe is the projected re-opening date)
Rev James Solomon Settle Baptisms at Settles Bridge. 1910-1911
I visited the tunnel today (7-10-17) and hiked above to the right side where the rock drainage wall is. There is major erosion over the portal (10-20 ft) where all you can see is dirt over the arch of the brick. I'm not any kind of engineer but I do not thing the northern portal is going to be up much longer with the way the water drains.
Should be Baker Co. Ga, not Newton County.
Relocated safely to a park AND replaced by a decent looking modern pony truss. If an old truss absolutely must go from its original site and another historic bridge can't be used as a replacement, you can't ask for a much better outcome.
Accessible via gravel trail at olde rope mill park.
This bridge has some unusual members. Modified perhaps?
Not sure what they did to inflate the cost of the best option (#1), but I tend to agree with Matt that they are deceiving the public!
Demolishing this bridge should not be an option as it accomplishes nothing but wasting tax payer money and eliminating yet another beautiful historical and rare structure.
Did you also notice that the best option is also shown to be the most expensive, probably to deceive the public into thinking that it's actually true, so they can have an excuse to demolish the old bridge??
The first option would be great. I noticed that two of the options involve demolishing this bridge. That would be an unfortunate outcome.
Additional reporting with renderings of all four options being proposed.
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/duluth-asking-residen...
Engineers present Rogers Bridge rehabilitation concepts in Duluth
http://www.ajc.com/news/local/engineers-present-rogers-bridg...
I'm not sure either. More recent reports would seem to pinpoint the failed spans as being part of the Piedmont Avenue overpass and viaduct. The fire location was just northeast of Piedmont Avenue, and google street views from Piedmont under the bridge also show the suspicious spools. I originally added this, and I'll fix it up when better information becomes available.
Georgia DOT inspectors have now also condemned the southbound lanes as having been damaged by the fire badly enough to require replacement, even though that bridge did not collapse.
He looks like a scoundrel to me.
I'm not sure if we have the right NBI listing for the collapsed bridge. This one seems to fit the dimensions better:
http://uglybridges.com/1096301
Curiously, the Associated Press story about the collapse identifies the wrong bridge. The story says: "Built in 1953 and renovated in 1985, the collapsed span scored a sufficiency rating of 94.6 out of 100 in its last inspection in 2015, said Natalie Dale, a spokeswoman for the Georgia DOT."
The only NBI bridge matching that description is on Highway 13 (Old Interstate 85) some distance away:
.
News article
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/04/01/3-arrested-in-atlanta-f...
Concrete is not indestructible...
.
The bridge is still there standing on its 100 year anniversary! Although I made sure to paddle under it quickly as it honestly looks like it could all come down at Any moment. Of course the pillars will be there for hundreds of years after the steel structure ends up in the river. The state will certainly have a clean up on their hands when it falls as the water is only like 5 feet deep on average, so the bridge fall will block the waterway.
Andrew, your photo has been added to the correct page, photo #46 here:
http://bridgehunter.com/tx/comal/150460025303019/
Thanks!
I have a picture of this bridge dated December 1957 and don't know why is it of any interest to anyone.
I am sorry that my comment is not on the bridge you made a comment on but i ran across a pic of the 281 guadalupe bridge from 1937 and wanted to post it on this sight can you help me get this photo to the correct spot thank you
Love it!!
i bet this bridge has a big one
le herp derp
le herp derp
Beautiful bridge though... And named after a true hero who saved many lives while losing his own on the Titanic!
Butt memorial bridge is funny
I'm a model railroader and would like to see more detail shots so that I can reproduce this in scale. Would you have other shots? scottgperry@comcast.net
Hey, there is some other old bridges that are in Montgomery county, and Toombs county area. If someone is willing,
I would gladly show someone around to take pictures of them. Just for some updates of the web site.
This bridge closed in 1972 when the new bridge opened about 150 yards down stream. Bethlehem Steel was the Maker of the Construction Materiel. My Cousin actually ran our Corvair Dune buggy off the bridge at the Southern entrance. He put the car in the top of a tree which gently laid the car to the center of the creek, Unharmed.
No, the bridge is been unaccessible since I was in my younger years. I am 33 now and looking to try and make it more accessible for new comers and travelers in this area. It's history but it will be forgotten soon if we don't clean up the area so it can be viewed as a part of our history
Scheduled to be replaced in another 5 years.
This bridge was just closed and refurbished again in August 2016. Members were replaced and straightened as necessary. Due to repeated impacts the cross frames were rebuilt and raised to provide over 17' of vertical clearance. A new bridge is being designed and it is to be completely replaced in another five years.
All I can say is "WOW"...
"Here... Hold my beer and hand me that torch!"
Someone needs to set up an IR gate that plays the beginning lick of "Dueling Banjos" whenever someone crosses.
I am not guessing. This is by far one of the best examples of Redneck Bridge technology. The "endposts" if you can call them that are comical, they look like they are barely attached midway up.
WOW! This is a unique little bridge! I am guessing it was probably put together by some locals who were using parts recycled from an older bridge.
this bridge was a favourite of mine to photograph while I lived in Georgia. I always got the best shots standing in the river, well worth the wet feet!
Ex-Southern Railway M-line, abandoned and scrapped in 1988. Line originally ran from McDonough to Columbus.
Topographic maps of the area indicate this was originally part of the Seaboard Coast Line
I wish they would save this bridge, something like moving it to Cherokee Lake and use it on the walking trail.
This bridge is actually over the CSX Bow Line, not Norfolk Southern, and it's a DOT bridge not a RR bridge.
Anyone have any vintage photos? There are several attachment points for possible ironwork embellishment & it looks like there used to be gas lights.
Anyone have any vintage photos? There are several attachment points for possible ironwork embellishment & it looks like there used to be gas lights.
Thy will begin construction today to raise the height of the bridge.
It appears to be a Luten arch bridge in fact one directly associated with Daniel Luten based on the detail at the corners of the arch rib. Refer to Jim Cooper's book about Indiana's concrete bridges for details about Luten arches.
Nice find. I've lived in North Georgia all my life and never knew it was there.
Its the correct bridge. 5th Street crosses the Jefferson Davis Bridge
Visited on April 15, 2016. Owner of house graciously allowed me on his property to visit the underside of bridge and creek bed. Really cool bridge though top siding is in very poor repair. Owner told me too-tall-trucks strikes the steel guards (7 feet high) frequently. Very busy, at least 50-75 cars crossed while I photographed bridge.