Sewalls Falls Road Bridge

gone...

http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/21496307-95/out-with-the-...

Your observation is correct Steve, the inset and protruding stones in the fourth and fifth tiers of stonework are coincident with the encased arches in the Woods built double Town which was removed to build the Storrs designed Pratt we know and love. And with the stonework being raised in height for that previous incarnation, these are almost without doubt "Springstones" for those arches.

https://bridgewright.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/sewalls-fal...

I wonder if you might be open to my adding your photo (with accreditation) to my history of the crossing? With it being as much about the stonework and its concurrent loss with the removal of the Sewell's Falls and the predecessor bridges that granite carried.

https://bridgewright.wordpress.com/2015/01/31/swept-away/

Bridge being removed and no plans for adaptive re-use.

http://www.theconcordinsider.com/2015/12/08/saying-goodbye-t...

I have visited this bridge twice this summer of 2015. Work has begun on the approaches. This has brought tree removal that offers a great viewing point from the east side.

My revisit was to get pictures of a feature that I noticed on my last visit but needed a telephoto lens to capture. The center pier looks to have landings for the previous structures arch trusses.

Closed to traffic as of December 1st

The city has put up a project website > http://www.sewallsfallsbridge.com/project-overview.html

Concord solicits proposals to reuse Sewalls Falls Bridge elsewhere.

See: http://www.concordmonitor.com/community/town-by-town/concord...

The fate of this bridge is now officially sealed. Sewalls Falls Bridge to be replaced starting in 2015: http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/11081732-95/council-appro...

The local paper, the Concord Monitor, headquarters in its building complex on the east side bank adjacent to this bridge. The Monitor has fought tirelessly to see the bridge replaced.

It is not maintained by the State, but I take your point, and share in the opinion of whomever made the decision as to placement that it was a disrespectful, silly, and needless choice.

And alluded to that in the caption of that photo, a photo that none the less reveals the name of the bridges builder.

I see the covered up the plaque with a clearance sign. This is evidence of how little its owners care for the history of the bridge. How hard would it be to mount the sign elsewhere on the portal? I see this nonsense all the time in Pennsylvania, I see New Hampshire is no different.

The Sewall's was briefly closed earlier this week for soil compaction tests, as part of the prep for engineering the new abutments for the replacement span. I took it as a prompt and reminder to get out and shoot some photos.

I added a few of those and the name of the contracted builder to the data page.

With all the bad news surrounding the bridge of late, I thought I'd add this story and its goodtime observations which go to my fondness of and the universal decency always shown by those using one lane bridges, even busy ones.

http://www.theconcordinsider.com/article/sewalls-falls-bridg...

Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Representative Annie Kuster, both Democrats, have come out for demolishing the Sewalls Falls Bridge.

Republican Mitt Romney, as a presidential candidate, condemned a historic span in Hillsboro, NH previously.

Now this has become a bipartisan sport. Existing examples of New Hampshire's civil engineering heritage will continue to bother elected and appointed officials for generations to come. Expect the last historic spans to be targeted by Granite State and national politicians in the upcoming years... Until they are all removed.

See: http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/politics/8476217-95/shahe...

---SWL

Scratch my previous comment. God forbid any truss bridge be preserved. Now they are changing their mind and want to demolish the bridge http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/3632597-95/bridge-roberge...

I was pleasantly surprised to see this bridge is apparently to be rehabbed and become part of a one way couplet. One way couplets are excellent preservation solutions for busier roads needing two lanes. Sadly however, they are rarely actually built. http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/272780/sewalls-falls-p...

Here's photos of the Sewall Falls Bridge taken Oct 2, 2007