Recent North Carolina Comments

Bridge is currently closed for replacement of center pivot, gears, and balance wheels. See www.ncdot.gov for more info

This bridge reportedly was relocated from Leadville, Tennessee to N.C. when Douglas Lake was established.

Council extended its deadline to allow more interested parties to come forward. The next meeting is March 27.

This bridge was built during WWII during the line relocation due to Fontana Dam being built. It was built by TVA from steel reused from other bridges and sources because of steel shortage during the war.

MODERNE/NON HISTORIQUE!

Bing Bird's Eye imagery suggests that this might actually be better described as being on Hardin Mill Road. Hydro Drive may have been created after the bridge closing to reach the hydro plant. Just a thought.

Don

Seven Island Bridge in jeopardy:

http://www.thestokesnews.com/view/full_story/21430816/article-Danbury-seeks-input-on-future-of-historic-bridge

this bridge has been dismantled and replaced with concrete high rise beside it

There aren't a lot of detail photos to evaluate, but my guess is later than 1920, but prior to 1940 - with a bias toward the older end of the range. But trying to guess bridge age by construction methods is risky and inaccurate because each builder could - and did - pick and choose various techniques and methods.

There's most of a builder's plate showing--time for a visit! Too far for me to make a day trip....

It looks very old. What year was it built in?

Two other trusses appear if you continue SE down the shoreline. They seem to in use as docks. Nice that they weren't scrapped. Now, who can figure out where they originated?

The swing span appears to still exist in Bing and Google aerial views on the Eastern shore. Follow Wharf Landing Drive to the Southeast.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/70480563

The photo link above shows concrete panels possibly from the deck as well.

Bridge steel and some preassembly completed by Bethlehem steel in baltimore. Spans were barged to site and the bridge and the cranes which constructed it were done by McLean Contracting Company, baltimore md. 1972. At the time, it was the longest bascule span on east coast. George Mitchell built a "Derrick" to set the spans, which was named the "cape fear", and is still in use today! The bridge was built by McLean Contracting company.

Bridge steel and some preassembly completed by Bethlehem steel in baltimore. Spans were barged to site and the bridge and the cranes which constructed it were done by McLean Contracting Company, baltimore md. 1972. At the time, it was the longest bascule span on east coast. George Mitchell built a "Derrick" to set the spans, which was named the "cape fear", and is still in use today! The bridge was built by McLean Contracting company.

I was looking at the wrong crossing of the lake (I should have used the coordinates instead of just "lake lure" in the search bar).

Attached a screencap of google showing RT 64/74 Memorial Hwy bridge at west edge of Lake Lure old and new(2011) with distinctive dock to the north. I still believe Kim's photos to be of this bridge, and therefore not correct for this page.

It's not the Rt64 bridge at lake lure because that bridge is still in use and the bridge in the imagery had been replaced by a modern bridge but left in place.

Kim's photos appear to actually be Route 74 Old Memorial Highway bridge across Lake Lure.

Google 35.436154,-82.235458

I noticed that the bridge in the pics at the top is a closed-spandrel arch and is obviously not the correct bridge for this page. Kim, can you let us know where the bridge in the pics is, as it too looks interesting and very noteworthy...

There are several railroad truss bridges on the railroad coming down from Balsam and there is also a small, old one-lane truss bridge carrying automobile traffic over Rock Creek at Rock Bridge Road in Canada Township in Southeastern Jackson County. The old T. Walter Middleton Bridge in Tuckasegee was one of the original NC 107 concrete bridges built during the 1930s and is the only one still surviving intact, it is slated to be replaced with a new bridge next year. It is a two-lane bridge with beautiful art deco railings and crosses the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River.

This bridge has sat unused since the 1970s or 80s, and there is are a few other 1920s bridges in the county, all built around 1922 and 1923. There is a one lane concrete bridge on Greens Creek Road built in 1922, a two lane concrete bridge on Allen Street in Sylva built in 1922, and an abandoned bridge at the beginning of Lower North Fork Road that used to be a one-lane concrete highway bridge built in 1922.

The actual name is Wayehutta Road Bridge, and it hasn't been replaced yet, it will be replaced starting in July of 2012 but will remain standing and will most likely be used on the new County Greenway, which will require moving it a few miles downstream, because they are pushing the DOT to allow them to use the bridge very hard. There is also a concrete arch bridge a little further down the river that will be replaced in 2014 that was originally built in 1936, washed out in 1940, and replaced in 1941 with the current bridge, which was rehabbed in the 1970s and the rail on the upstream side replaced, the new bridge is planned to have concrete arch railings as well.

This bridge was originally a beautiful bridge, but the 1985 rehab eliminated the decorative rail on one side and replaced it with a wooden rail and separated walkway with a wooden rail on the outside of it. The rehab added another lane to the former 2-lane bridge. There is another bridge that is still all original a little further up the road going into Downtown Sylva, as well as a 1920s concrete bridge over the creek on a side street that is still all original and is very short.

This bridge is a mystery:

This seems to be the old Yadkin Road Bridge and the link to NCDOT seems to verify this, but looking at the timeline on google earth (3/31/2002 satellite photo) one can see this bridge is sitting in a field adjacent to its present location and then now it is seen located over the creek. It looks like it has been recently put there as a trail bridge since the present in use bridge is an old wooden bridge itself that is being considered for replacement. Anyone have any clue what is going on here? Since NCDOT says that this bridge is of "unknown origins", and since I like to fabricate conspiracy theories from time to time I am going to say that this bridge was constructed and placed by aliens in its present location kind of like the pyramids in Egypt. However is anyone has a better explanation please feel free to comment.

mmmmmm.... truuuucks...

lol forgot to log in

There is a stringer bridge on the approach to the Government Bridge in Davenport, Iowa that is also known for the same stuff and has also become known rather infamously as "The Truck Eating Bridge."

OK, I realize 1940 stringer isn't the most significant bridge, but you have to admire the humor of this.

http://www.11foot8.com/

Good to see that apparently pressure from interested parties got the DOT to back off of demolition. Not many Dean & Westbrook spans left and the portal bracing on this one is very unique.

Bridge is to be bypassed: http://www.mountainx.com/article/35795/States-oldest-truss-bridge-over-Pigeon-River-to-be-replaced

wow........i should have taken your warning, nathan. i think i am going to need a very long shower.

Warning: The replacement bridge is rated EU for Extreme Ugliness. Viewer Discretion Is Advised.

Generic replacement span in place as of October 2011.

The Bridge at Sunset Beach was decommissioned by NCDOT on January 6, 2011. This bridge was a pontoon bridge, not a swing bridge. The 1984 bridge rested on eight metal barges. The first bridge over the Intercoastal Waterway from the mainland to the island of Sunset Beach was built in May 1958 by the developer Mannon C. Gore. Once more houses were built on the island, bridge inspections, repairs and general upkeep were taken over by NCDOT. They replaced the pontoon bridge in 1961 and then again in 1984. The Sunset Beach Bridge has now been moved to a site close by and is being restored by a nonprofit organization, The Old Bridge Preservation Society. The plan is to create an interpretive park for the area with the Old Bridge at Sunset as the focal point.

More information and video clips of the bridge being moved to the new site can be found at

http://www.oldbridgepreservationsociety.org/Site/Welcome.html

Here's a photo of the dedication plaque on this bridge that I took in April 2011: you may use it. Of note is the date of 1932, whereas you list "Built 1939." There is another very similar bridge just east of it that is a bit more photogenic: perhaps that bridge was built in 1939? For more information on other historical aspects of US-23, please visit http://www.roadtrip62.com/.

I live 1 mile east of the bridge that crosses catawba river on Highway 70. I have been here since 2008.

This bridge (also known to the locals as "Helen's Bridge" or Zealandia's Bridge) was built in 1909 as part of a driveway access to the Zealandia Castle located on the crest of Beaucatcher Mountain. Legend has it that a nearby home belonging to a woman named Helen caught on fire killing her only child...a little girl. The woman was so distraught over what happened that she hung herself on the bridge. The ghost of Helen has been spotted on-and off for a number of years.

The bridge had been in danger over the years of being torn down. When Beaucatcher's Cut (part of I-240) was being dig in 1976, the fear was that shockwaves from the blasts would cause the bridge to crumble. The bridge was shored up with scaffolding while work on the cut was done. The scaffolding remain in place until 1999 when preservationist worked on restoring the bridge for foot traffic.

Closed to traffic since (at least) early 2010.

Please consider the following clarifications to the listing:

Overview: This bridge (also known as the Lookout Shoals Bridge) was located on SR 1006. (NC designations have one, two, or three digits.)

Location: This bridge should more properly be listed as having been in both Catawba and Iredell counties, as the west abutment was in Catawba and the east abutment was in Iredell.

Status: The bridge has not been replaced. At the time of its demise, it was the oldest of five road crossings of the river between Iredell and Catawba counties; no new crossings had been built in more than 25 years prior to its demolition, and none have been built since.

I road accross this bridge 100s of times back in the 1970s on the way back to White Lake(Home)..It felt scary at times.But i do miss Bladen.

Great addition! Nice too see what a concrete girder in North Carolina looks like, this is a great representative example and appears to be in good shape.

Thanks for getting these photos, it is nice to get a better look at this bridge. I didn't realize it had that weird newer girder/floorbeam span. Each span is a different age!

As for the double-Warren truss configuration, I have seen bridges like this listed as both Pratts and Double-Warrens. I really don't know what the "correct" classification is. My thinking with the vertical members has been that a standard Warren truss may or may not have verticals, so why shouldn't a double-intersection warren. But I could see someone making the argument that the bridge is a Pratt with counters on every panel, but usually counters are only present in the center panel(s). With pin-connected truss bridges, counters are easy to ID because they are smaller than diagonals, but on riveted truss bridges like this one the counters are often the same size as the diagonals.

Thanks for adding this bridge, Nathan. I will post my pictures of it tonight. I'd be curious to know why the smaller span is a Double-Intersection Warren instead of a four-panel Pratt. I was led to believe it was the latter because of the vertical members.

This bridge qualifies to be placed in the "S Bridge" category. So far, S Bridges are very rare. This bridge is a modern version of one.

Any idea who built this bridge? The Fulton Street Bridge (lost) in Louisiana was identical to this one (albeit totally rusted brown as I recall).

To Captain Barnhill,

I found this on starnewsonline.com regarding the "Memorial" in the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

“This majestic structure … will henceforth serve to honor the memory of the heroic men and women of North Carolina who gave their lives in the service of the United States of America.”

You give a great boat tour!

Modern concrete beautifully used to best effect. Sometimes advances in technology do end up benefiting the engineering and the visual attractiveness of the structure.

Here are some construction pictures of the bridge.

As mentioned, each 50-ton section was pre-assembled and pre-cast at another location, then delivered to the construction site by special trucks via the parkway itself. This process was repeated 183 times (183 sections). Because of the S-curve design, no two segments are the same. Note the segmented balanced cantilever method of laying out and placing the girders in place.. pre-stressing tendons start on one side, and gradually decrease in size towards the midspan.. it's a careful and delicate style that has only been done at one other bridge, the San Juan Bridge in the Phillipines.

JT, you are right about this being the Pine Log Bridge. Here is the link to a page that discusses it being moved here.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1478677/the-old-steel-bridge-in-warne-nc

I bought a painting of a woman called Isabella of the Cape Fear. It is from the late 1800's.? I am researching the provenance of this painting if you can assist. Thanks.

I found information about this bridge on Wikipedia and a few other sites, but nothing told about what it was a memorial for. I would recommend contacting the Wilmington Historical Society and see if they can find the answer.

I captain one of the tour boats on the Cape Fear and a part of the narration is mention of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and the type of bridge that it is.

Yesterday I was asked what was the bridge a memorial to?

Can you help?

The abandoned bridge was originally the Southern Railway's bridge on its line from Greensboro to Sanford. Bear with me here as this will get confusing...probably.

The Southern was originally the Atlantic & Yadkin (A&Y), envisioned to run from Wilmington to Greensboro to Mt Airy and into the coalfields of Virginia and West Virginia. It fails (or is helped to fail by two other competing railroads) and gets divided at Sanford...eastern Sanford-Wilmington half becomes part of the Atlantic Coast Line; the Sanford-Mt Airy becomes part of the Southern and uses the now abandoned bridge to get to Sanford.

There was another railroad called the Norfolk Southern...it existed until 1974 when it was purchased by the Southern. The old NS had red then grey diesels and ran from Norfolk to Charlotte by way of Elizabeth City, Greenville, Wilson, Zebulon, Raleigh, Fuquay-Varina, Cumnock, Robbins, Star etc and on to Charlotte. The old NS built the other bridge at Cumnock as part of its main line. The Southern bought the old NS to gain direct access to Norfolk via Raleigh. Sometime after this purchase, the Southern realizes keeping two bridges over the river is kind of expensive, looks at both bridges, and decides the NS bridge is the better bridge. The Southern builds several hundred yards of track, shifts its old A&Y line over to the old NS bridge, and abandons the original Southern bridge.

And in 1982, the Norfolk & Western merges with the Southern, creating the NS that we know today...which causes a lot of the confusion, because the old NS ended up being part of the new NS.

Western RR - could be one of two things - the A&Y/ACL from Sanford, or perhaps the old Norfolk Southern's branch from Fuquay-Varina to Fayetteville. I have some books at home that might help clarify this...

Bridge dates - I don't them off the top of my head and I'm not certain I could find that info anyplace.

This is the bridge that was at the beginning of the movie Maximum Overdrive by Stephen King

Do you know if the project to replace the bridge will use any federal money… or if the bridge is being replaced with a state aid grant, does that state aid grant draw any federal funds?

If there is any federal involvement of any kind and the bridge can also be found either eligible for listing or actually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, then NCDOT is required by law to conduct Section 106 and they must consider alternatives to demolition, and if they still choose demolition, they must mitigate the “adverse effect” caused by the demolition of the bridge. Mitigation could include things like the salvage of parts of the historic bridge as you mentioned.

I am curious where you heard that the bridge was not historic. Keep in mind that being simply “eligible” for the national register of historic places is exactly the same from a legal standpoint as being physically listed on the national register. Eligible or listed, both require Section 106 if there is federal involvement. According to the bridge marketing page on NCDOT’s website, the bridge is listed as NR (National Register) eligible: http://www.ncdot.org/doh/preconstruct/pe/ohe/histarchi/bridge/Jackson107.html and assuming that is not a typo, than whoever told you the bridge is not historic is not being truthful.

I did find the project information page for the bridge, although it doesn’t say a lot:

https://apps.dot.state.nc.us/Projects/Search/Detail.aspx?find=af904179-07dd-497e-b11c-06d8a0b247bc

I also found that apparently there was a meeting held about the bridge this evening. Hopefully you were able to attend.

http://www.ncdot.org/doh/preconstruct/pe/ohe/PublicInv/Notice/Jackson_B3861_062010.pdf

Let me know if you can fill me in on the questions I raised above, and from there, my next step will be to approach NCDOT for additional information. You can get in touch with me directly here: http://www.historicbridges.org/contact/index.htm

This bridge is on the list to be replaced within 2 years. Most of the community see the need and understand that it is difficult to keep it if it is not being used, but we would like for some of its architectural and historical aspects, such as the steel side rails, to be used as part of the new bridge. We have been told that this bridge is not on the "Historic Register" and they do not have the funds to spend any extra money on "enhancements". I know that budgets are tight now, but I also know that when it is GONE, it will not come back. Can you send me any information you have on the history of this bridge and what I need to do to get it recognized.

Thanks, Charles Hill

View attachment #1 (Zip archive data, at least v2.0 to extract, 194350 bytes)

What if we could get the town to agree to delay the demolition so that a group of concerned citizens could look into the possiblility of saving the bridge as a bike/pedestrian greenway site. The location fits in perfectly with the greenway master plan. It seems to me that so far, all the engineering inspections have been pointed towards re-opening it as a traffic bridge but maybe the cost would be less as a greenway. If we can show the way to reduce liabiltity and cost to the town, I think they would agree to save it. It's an icon so closely identified to the Town of Elkin that it's image is on the Elkin Seal.

They are wanting to tear this bridge down. If you know anything about this area you know it has great significance to the town of Hertford. Please sign the petition to try and save this historic bridge. I'll also post a link to a local paper that gives more detail on what they are planning to do. If they succeed in tearing down the bridge they will also succeed in strangling the last bit of life left in the town of Hertford.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sbridge/

Story from Pilot Online:

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/04/s-bridge-may-be-near-end-road-nc

I visited this bridge Mar 2010. It looks to me like

the downstream beams were encased in concrete when a

Sidewalk was added. An attached photo shows the

expensive to repair result.

Anyone know how old this bridge is? What RR used it, and what was it's earliest date of use? Also wondering if this may be part of the Western Railroad of NC which brought coal from the mines in this area to Fayetteville....

Any historical information would be much appreciated.

Davidson County has decided, after lengthy negotiations with NCDOT, and for the second time, to accept ownership of the bridge when NCDOT abandons it. This is probably still several years away. Davidson County will convert it to pedestrian/bicycle use.

What's the status on this bridge? Info I've found is that NCDOT did want to demolish and replace it, local opposition got them to relocate the replacement bridge and spare this one. Has this been formalized? Does NCDOT want to transfer ownership? Has there been any restoration?

Reply to Nathan:

Interesting comment. Perhaps the plaque might indicate when the bridge was moved intstead of when the materials were fabricated.

I am not saying this is the case here, but sometimes bridge companies may have stockpiled old bridges and sold them to customers as an inexpensive option for roads where a brand new cutting edge bridge was not needed. Here is a bridge I documented that has a plaque listing 1900 on it, yet the bridge stylistically dates to c. 1880 or earlier, with threaded rod and nut connections, cast iron endpost connection assemblies, and star iron members for outriggers. http://www.historicbridges.org/pennsylvania/milford/index.htm

The point is that sometimes plaques are not the final word on construction date.

This is a particularly interesting bridge because it has a construction date of 1921, but features eyebars and pinned connections. If it did not have a plaque confirming the year of construction I would have guessed that it would date from about 1900-1910.

I am not familiar with the Atlantic Bridge Co. Perhaps they were a localized company. This bridge is a great find!

A couple questions about this bridge:

1. Was this bridge used in the film "Raw Deal" with Arnold Schwarzeneggar when it was released in 1985? The bridge looks familiar for some reason. Look at the beginning of the film with the cop- motorcyclar chase and see what you think.

2. Are there plans for converting the abandoned railline into a bike trail? It looks like despite having the rail ties removed that it has been used as a hiking path for awhile.

JS

PS, It is a really nice bridge though. Traffic lights serving as a signal to drivers to take turns should be used more often on bridges like these...

When will the painting of this bridge begin with the closing of the inbound and outbound lanes?

Who and why was the bridge named Isabel Holmes Bridge. Trying to settle a debate.

Thank you.

Actually, the Rockford Railroad Bridge http://www.historicbridges.org/truss/rockford/index.htm in Michigan comes to my mind... not because of the truss config (which is different) but because of striking similarities to the portal bracing. I seem to remember someone telling me the Rockford Railroad Bridge (and its distinctive portal) had roots with the Pennsylvania(?) Railroad. I have no idea if this explains anything about this Ela Railroad Bridge.

This bridge resembles a bridge in Griffin, Georgia:

http://bridgehunter.com/ga/spalding/sixth-street/

The Georgia bridge has all pinned joints, but has the same unusual arrangement of diagonal members.

Also, here's an interesting bridge in Missouri (a Kingpost) that has a riveted upper joint but pinned lower joints:

http://bridgehunter.com/mo/saline/buck-creek/

It appears that the center 2 panels are riveted together, with the adjoining diagonals from the outer panels being pinned to them and the lower chord. I'm not as adept with railroad spans, but I've not seen anything like this before.

Photograph # 5 reveals an interesting feature of this bridge. That lower chord joint features both a pin connection and what appears to be a riveted gusset plate. The bridge appears to indicate that both systems were being used by the Edge Moor Brige works at the time.

Google Maps shows that this bridge has been replaced by a culvert.

During my last visit to this bridge (12/7/09) it was having its deck replaced on the main span. I suppose this means that it won't be replaced in the near future.

You can quit looking for this one, it was replaced by a high-rise bridge around 1994...

From what I can tell this bridge will not be removed until 2010, probably due to the scant transportation budget. I guess there isn't enough money for superfluous projects like tearing down historic bridges that aren't in the way of anything. Still, it'll be a pile of scrap someday, sadly.

Originally constructed in 1908, the bridge spans the Deep River. It underwent many reconstructions and renovations until 1992 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the North Carolina Transportation Hall of Fame. Located at Deep River Park (forty acres with picnic tables), which provides a scenic view and is a wonderful place for a picnic. Canoe access, picnic areas. Bridge is lighted at night.

http://visitpittsboro.com

http://bit.ly/QWRgy

When did they build the new bridge? When did cars quit traveling on the camel back bridge?

How many other swing bridges are there along the North Carolina Coast?

US 74 and 17 no longer go over this bridge. US 74 has been placed on a semi-freeway bypass of downtown, and goes over the Isabel Holmes Bridge. US 17 has been placed on the Outer Loop well away from the city. The main span of this bridge is the longest in North Carolina.

There is really nothing historic about this structure and it is actually quite ugly when you look at it. However, the Warren trusses used as floor beams are somewhat interesting. It replaced a 1920s bascule bridge that had deck truss approaches.

I forgot. The Wil-Cox Bridge, and both Norfolk Southern rail bridges, have been determined eligible for the National Register. And can you please place this bridge under the "open-spandrel arch" category, and all three, plus the Swift Island Bridge, on the Yadkin - Pee Dee River?

downriver of two adjoining Norfolk Southern bridges, built in 1919 on original c. 1855 granite block piers and abutments

upriver of two adjoining rail bridges, built in 1906

Wil-Cox Bridge during construction

Photo property of Ann Brownlee

Five Yadkin River Bridges

front to rear:

1922 Wil-Cox Bridge

1951 US 29/70 bridge

1906 Norfolk Southern Rail Bridge

1919 Norfolk Southern Rail Bridge

1956 I-85 Bridge

Photo by Ann Brownlee

Wil-Cox Bridge, four spans

Photo by Ann Brownlee 2004, from Davidson county bank

This bridge still exists, actually. It is a rare case of a historic bridge in North Carolina being preserved. It is called the Mariposa Bridge and is apart of a mill village. http://www.lincolncountyhistory.com/newsletter/0805/0805%20LCHA%20Newsletter%20LR.pdf. The new bridge follows a routing that is some ways away from the historic bridge.

These are two distinct bridges at this crossing, and share only abutments and piers, though for this reason it might be tempting to consider them to be one bridge. This structure, which is downstream of its near-twin, appears to be the newer of the two. Not only is there far less rust on it, but there are a few bolted parts, though not on any critical connections in the truss; these are all riveted. For the most part the designs are the same. Each bridge features latticed members, for example. I saw trains pass over both bridges while I was in the kayak. I just wish I knew the age of each bridge, so I could post it here. Any information that could be added would be appreciated.

This bridge is located between the eastbound and westbound rest areas on I-85 (where the sides of the interstate reverse, so the bridge is in the middle). According to one site, it was moved from Stoke County, where it crossed over Seven Mile Creek near Danbury (http://www.gribblenation.com/nclost/bridges/197.html). It's really a nice little bridge, and has retained its period railing and wooden deck. There was also no traffic going over it when I was there, so I was able to photograph it without being bothered. There was a sign on it that read "Authorized Vehicles Only," so it probably receives little traffic. It was in very good shape. I suppose it's one of the lucky few of NC.

I was driving toward Havelock, NC at Thanksgiving and saw two trucks with the new bascule girders on the them. The contractors should be well on their way on building this bridge.

This bridge was removed in 2007 and will be replaced with a bascule span due to open in 2010. Oddly enough, the old swing span was floated away on a barge to a shipyard in Edenton, I read. Perhaps it will be reused somewhere.

This bridge, while certainly not exceptional as bridges go, is a notable one in this county, where the NCDOT has eradicated the many truss bridges that used to cross the creeks and the Haw River. Considering this policy, I'm surprised this one is still here. The road is heavily traveled, including by large trucks, many of which probably exceed the weight limit. Most drivers probably think they're crossing a culvert, due to the paved-over deck. However, when you climb down to the creek you'll find that it's a pretty interesting structure, but also a neglected one. It's a throwback to a time when this road was probably really remote, and not a mile from two Interstates. The deck may be original; it looks like local Southern Yellow Pine, older growth. There are a lot of beams holding the roadway up, but the bolts appear to be rusted severely. The abutments appear to be relatively sturdy, with the cross beams resting on modern pressure treated square columns and solid concrete. The condition of the original columns is scary, as a few are halfway rotted through. The wooden retaining walls of the abutments are also rotting. I admit that it probably needs to be replaced, but it will be a shame to lose one of the few remaining bridges in the county for a tasteless slab. The detour will be a nightmare too!

AMEN with that brother!!

"Where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:18.

Sadly, Terence Mann, the James Earl Jones character in the movie Field of Dreams summed it up pretty well when he said, "America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again."

Which is why we continue to inexplicably destroy our heritage. Europe has cathedrals and castles and yes, bridges, that are centuries old and have withstood the ravages of time, weather and war.

But here? No, too many of our leaders lack the vision to recognize such structures as part of our heritage, they see such structures simply as eyesores to be destroyed (at taxpayer expense) and replaced (at taxpayer expense) with new structures that serve the same purpose as the old ones that they destroyed.

What sense does that make?

As citizens, we are told we must recycle plastic bottles, bags, newspapers, boxes, cans and other materials, but our leaders do not recycle old bridges, they just throw them away.

It's just rediculous.

This bridge is supposedly scheduled to be removed this year, though I don't know for certain. It's pretty ridiculous, since it seems it would make a nice pedestrian crossing of the river. I noticed that the city council of Elkin voted unanimously to have it removed. I guess they think that such a bridge is an "eyesore," completely missing the beauty of v-lacing in the top members among other things, or the fact that a bridge of this type is a novelty in this state. Instead of a local attraction, they'll be left with street stubs that lead to nowhere. Ridiculous.

I recently kayaked out to this bridge and found it to be a really neat sight as you make your way around the bend in the river. Correct me if I am wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is a Pennsylvania truss. It's probably the second longest fixed truss span in the state (which has almost zero truss bridges), after the Cape Fear River bridge on Tar Heel Ferry Road (NC 1316). Supposedly this is the bridge's final year, so take any photos of it soon! I will try to get some shots of the portal and plaque another time. It really disgusts me how this state, which has so few interesting bridges, has squandered the ones it has. Not surprisingly, this part of the river will be a lesser place with a UCEB. And the detour won't be very fun either, as the nearest crossing is a ferry, while the closest fixed crossings are in Wilmington and Elizabethtown. If only they had maintained it! As the pictures show, it probably hasn't had a thing done to it since 1952.

Do you have any idea of the construction date for this bridge?

I'm assembling info on bridge constructors in the Knoxville, TN area and have found several local concrete arch bridges by the Luten Bridge Co. of Knoxville, TN

I recently traveled out to this bridge and found out that it's no longer a functioning swing span, so it remains in the closed position. Also, US 117 and NC 133 no longer go over the bridge. US 117 travels into Wilmington on College Road, then heads east on Shipyard Blvd, terminating at the state port. NC 133 has been routed onto the limited access Martin Luther Parkway, which crosses over this creek not far south from this bridge (it can be seen in one of the photos). I really hope that by taking a large amount of thru traffic off of it this bridge's life will be extended somewhat. It really looks neat against the water and it would be a shame to have it replaced with a slab. The deck is definitely worn down because you can see the reinforcement coming through.