Harford Road Herring Run Bridge

Photos

Harford Road Bridge

Note park road span underneath main span

Photo taken by Alexander D. Mitchell IV in December 2014

Enlarge

BH Photo #309669

Map

Map Links

Street View

View looking northeast

Description

The venerable bridge was considered a fine example of its type when new. A series of three parabolic arches, it was designed and constructed by engineer Daniel Benjamin Luten, a specialist in the construction of concrete spans. He lived in Indianapolis and held numerous bridge-building patents. He was an accomplished businessman and owned a construction company in York, Pa. The state of Maryland contracted with him to do the Harford Road job.

The state paid for the bridge based upon a funding bill that had been passed in the 1908 legislature. Work didn’t begin until 1911 under the auspices of the old Maryland Good Road Commission, which later became the State Roads Commission.

There had been a number of earlier spans over Herring Run, including an 1889 iron span. The city’s streetcars also had their own Herring Run-Harford Road trestle.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bs-md-ci-kelly-co...

Facts

Overview

Concrete arch bridge over Herring Run on Harford Road in Baltimore

Location

Baltimore, Maryland

Status

Demolished for replacement span

Future prospects

$19 million contract for demolition and replacement signed July 2018; demolition slated to begin fall 2018; bridge closed for demolition Nov. 19, 2018

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs...

http://www.wbal.com/article/347460/3/harford-road-bridge-clo...

History

Built 1911-12 for $60,000, opened July 12, 1912; rehabilitated 1927; closed temporarily 2017 after water main under deck ruptured; demolition begun late fall of 2018 and completed 2019

Builder

- Daniel Benjamin Luten, engineer

Design

Arch

Dimensions

Length of largest span: 126.0 ft.
Total length: 290.0 ft.
Deck width: 44.0 ft.

Approximate latitude, longitude

+39.33382, -76.57653 (decimal degrees)
39°20'02" N, 76°34'35" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")

Approximate UTM coordinates

18/364126/4355006 (zone/easting/northing)

Quadrangle map:

Baltimore East

Average daily traffic (as of 2016)

21,704

Inventory number

BH 19575 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Inspection report (as of October 2016)

Overall condition: Poor
Superstructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 47.4 (out of 100)
View more at BridgeReports.com

Update Log

June 8, 2019: Updated by Alexander D. Mitchell IV: Demolition complete, additional history and article link provided
November 20, 2018: Updated by Alexander D. Mitchell IV: Bridge closed for demolition
November 13, 2018: Updated by Alexander D. Mitchell IV: Demolition imminent
July 21, 2018: Updated by Alexander D. Mitchell IV: Demolition scheduled fall 2018
December 11, 2014: New photos from Alexander D. Mitchell IV
November 24, 2014: New Street View added by Alexander D. Mitchell IV

Sources

Alexander D. Mitchell IV