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Big Cove Road Access Bridge

Swain County, North Carolina

Photos 

Elevation View Of Luten Bridge At Oconaluftee Residence Area

Photo taken by David Haas for the Historic American Engineering Record

View photos at Library of Congress

BH Photo #310341

Map 

Description 

The Luten bridges are a significant component of the transportation system in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Providing access to the first national park in the southern portion of the United States, this network of roads and bridges is representative of NPS park road design throughout the country. The Luten Bridges were built for developed areas and not originally intended for a national park; thus, they contrast greatly with the rustic style of bridges constructed under the authority of the Park Service. For additional information on the Luten Bridges, see HAER No. TN-35, historical overview pages 118-121.

-- Historic American Engineering Record

Facts 

Overview
Concrete arch bridge over Raven Fork on Big Cove Road Access
Location
Swain County, North Carolina
Status
Closed to all traffic
History
Built 1921
Builder
- Luten Bridge Co. of York, Pennsylvania & Knoxville, Tennessee
Design
Arch
Dimensions
Span length: 100.1 ft.
Total length: 100.1 ft.
Deck width: 17.7 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude
+35.51370, -83.29932   (decimal degrees)
35°30'49" N, 83°17'58" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
17/291485/3932443 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Smokemont
Average daily traffic (as of 2009)
100
Inventory number
BH 23326 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection report (as of May 2017)
Overall condition: Poor
Superstructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 58.1 (out of 100)
View more at BridgeReports.com

Categories 

Arch (11,970)
Built 1921 (565)
Built during 1920s (9,808)
Closed (2,648)
Concrete inset railing (439)
Deck arch (11,211)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (12)
Luten Bridge Co. (129)
 North Carolina (934)
Owned by National Park Service (455)
Owned by federal government (1,203)
Span length 100-125 feet (4,369)
Structurally deficient (14,567)
Swain County, North Carolina (25)
Total length 100-125 feet (5,135)

Update Log 

  • August 31, 2018: New photo from Andrew Penik
  • August 29, 2018: New photo from Andrew Penik
  • December 26, 2014: HAER photos posted by Dave King

Sources 

  • HAER TN-35-T - Great Smoky Mountains National Park Roads & Bridges, Luten Bridges, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, TN

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