Cooper River Bridge

Yes...I do agree with you about the lacing and lattice Matt!

I do agree that the truss beats any UCEB any day of the week--maybe it's a type that I'd get used to, but I've never been a fan of the box truss. It's just too square and utilitarian (perfect term, Mike!) for my tastes--at least at the present. I do highly agree, it beats a cable-stayed or boring concrete bridge. I'm a big fan of the intricate details of historic trusses (V-lacing, lattice, battens, etc.) that add so much beauty to a truss bridge. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, or maybe just old! :) Anyway, thanks for the input--always appreciated coming from other bridge enthusiasts!

Hey now...it's a truss bridge! In this world of slabs and girders and OH!...let's put up a cable-stayed bridge!!... I'll take it! I kinda like the omitting of verticals and the upper lateral bracing with no struts.

I faced the same dilemma last year when I visited Cincinnati. Sandwiched in between the Roebling and L&N (Purple People) Bridges is the Taylor Southgate Bridge. It was built about the same time as the Cooper River Bridge and is also a continuous Warren truss. Unfortunately this span replaced the iconic Central Bridge which was one of the earliest cantilevered bridges to be built, and now even wears it's plaques and some of it's decorations. Now, there's no doubt that any one of us would gladly sacrifice the current bridge to have the old one back. But it is gone and this modern truss has taken it's place. I wasn't initially impressed but as I photographed all of these spans I found that this bridge did have some of it's own character and I got some pretty nice shots of it...especially when it was illuminated at night.

No, it's not historic...but it might just be someday. And it is certainly better than a slab or a stayed bridge.

Ugly may be a bit insensitive to the bridges feelings. I would agree it's a bit on the utilitarian side.

It is unique in the fact that it is not just another post-tensioned box gider.

Actually, I can think of a few bridges I have posted where that classification would be most appropriate. I don't think you're out of line.

Was it unfair of me to add "ugly" as a category for this bridge? It is difficult for me to find truss bridges that I consider "ugly", but this one IS UGLY!!