Huie Road Bridge
Brief history
Reposted from NCDOT"This 121-foot-long, pin-connected, Pratt through truss bridge was a significant and complete example of its type that probably dated to about 1910. Several of its details-cotter pin fasteners, the composition of built-up sections, the paddle shape of hip verticals at the lower panel points-were similar to those of the 1913 Riverside Bridge near Bluff City, Tennessee, which was documented as erected by the Converse Bridge Company by the Historic American Engineering Record prior to its demolition in 1984. That company likely also built this bridge over Rocky Creek near Jennings crossroads in northern Iredell County.
The Converse Bridge Company of Chattanooga, Tennessee was one of hundreds of bridge building firms that were established in the late 19th century and that thrived on providing prefabricated truss bridges to local highway officials. W. H. Converse, an Ohio native, came to Chattanooga in the early 1880s as an agent for the nationally known Wrought Iron Bridge Company. About 1890 he began to work as a private bridge builder and in 1893 incorporated the Converse Bridge Company. His firm successfully fabricated and marketed truss bridges in the upper South from the 1890s through the 1920s. Not surprisingly, the company was very active in Tennessee: the Tennessee Department of Transportation's historic bridge inventory identified 26 Converse bridges in that state. During the Great Depression, the company built few bridges and subsequently ceased their manufacture. The Sisken Steel & Supply Company of Chattanooga, which is still in business, purchased Converse in 1951."-NCDOT
Facts
- Overview
- Pratt truss bridge over Rocky Creek on NC 1854
- Location
- Iredell County, North Carolina
- Status
- Replaced by a new bridge
- Future prospects
- This bridge was successfully marketed on NCDOT's Bridge Marketing Page. It will be relocated and preserved at Foothills Equestrian Center, in Alexander County North Carolina.
- History
- Built 1910; Possibly rehabilitated 1940.
- Design
- Pin-connected, 7-panel Pratt through truss
- Dimensions
-
Span length: 121.1 ft.
Total length: 121.1 ft.
Deck width: 10.8 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 13.6 ft.
- Recognition
- Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
- Also called
- Rocky Creek Bridge
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +35.99136, -80.85929 (decimal degrees)
35°59'29" N, 80°51'33" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 17/512683/3982999 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Harmony
- Average daily traffic (as of 2000)
- 80
- Inventory numbers
- NC 970228 (North Carolina bridge number)
BH 23284 (Bridgehunter.com ID) - Inspection report (as of May 2007)
- Overall condition: Fair
Superstructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
View more at BridgeReports.com
Update Log
- August 9, 2015: Essay added by Royce and Bobette Haley
- May 30, 2015: Updated by Royce and Bobette Haley: Status update
- November 20, 2010: Updated by Matthew Ridpath: Updated design info.
- July 12, 2010: Updated by Nathan Holth: This bridge has been marketed and will be preserved!
- March 11, 2010: Updated by Nathan Holth: Updated Bridge Status
Sources
- Nathan Holth
- Bridge Marketing Page
- Matthew Ridpath
- Royce and Bobette Haley - roycehaley111 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Comments
Has this bridge ever been rebuilt at the Foothills Equestrian Center? I'm just curious to know.
Thanks
Tim
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.
Closed to traffic since (at least) early 2010.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/nc/iredell/970228/
I went to the Foothills Equestrian Center this afternoon to get some pictures of the old iron bridge on Huie road. I live at the top of the hill on Huie. I am sad to say that the bridge has not been reconstructed on the property. I spoke with a gentleman named Greg. He said he is still planning to erect the bridge.