American Legion Memorial Bridge

Sullivan County, Tennessee

Photos

Highway 421 Warren Continuous Truss Bridge

Note 2 span design of this Warren Riveted through truss.. the right side is longer than the left because it is the channel span.

Photo taken by Calvin Sneed in August 2008

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Map

Street View

View Uglybridges.com report

Facts

Overview: 1 2-span Warren Riveted through truss bridge over Holston River, South Fork on U.S. 421 (State Highway 34)
Location: Sullivan County, Tennessee
Status: Open to traffic
History: Authorized by the Tennessee Valley Authority, in cooperation with the Tennessee Highway Department, built in 1949-50 upon the impoundment of the South Holston Lake.
Builders: - United States Steel Corp. (Steel Fabricators)
- Virginia Bridge Co. of Roanoke, Virginia (Builders)
Design: Warren continuous through truss, riveted
Dimensions: Length of largest span: 400.0 ft.
Total length: 1,263.1 ft.
Deck width: 23.9 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 14.3 ft.
Also called: Highway 421 Bridge
Veterans Memorial Bridge
South Holston Lake Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude: +36.56583, -82.04583 (decimal degrees)
36°33'57" N, 82°02'45" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 17/406417/4047219 (zone/easting/northing)
USGS topographic map: Holston Valley
Inventory numbers: TN 82SR0340025 (Tennessee bridge number)
BH 32712 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection (as of 05/2011): Deck condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 68.7 (out of 100)
Average daily traffic (as of 2011): 1,640

Update Log

May 3, 2010: New Street View added by Nathan Holth
September 26, 2008: Updated by Calvin Sneed
August 11, 2008: New photos from Calvin Sneed
July 4, 2008: Updated by Calvin Sneed

Sources

Calvin Sneed - us43137415 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Nathan Holth

Comments

American Legion Memorial Bridge, Highway 421, Bristol, TN

Posted July 1, 2012, by Bobby J. Richards (tennaub [at] isp [dot] com)

In about 1953-54, I was in the Bristol Tennessee High School Viking Band. Several of us band members played at the bridge dedication. I'm not real positive on the years. The dedication took place in a large open area on the bridges south side. When it was dedicated, the local American Legion chapter was in full attendance and it was dubbed the "American Legion Memorial Bridge". I have also heard it referred to as the Veterans Bridge, Highway 421 Bridge, South Holston Bridge and probably a few others I can't remember. The name, "American Legion Memorial Bridge", has always stuck in my mind as the proper name. At one time, there was a plague located near the north approach to the bridge but I cannot remember the inscription on it or when it was placed.

South Holston Lake Bridge

Posted February 17, 2012, by Calvin Sneed (us43137415 [at] yahoo [dot] com)

Jerry, you're right. I have located a picture of the plaque, but I don't know where the original was placed. It is, indeed, the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Thanks for the info!

South Holston River Bridge

Posted May 6, 2009, by Jerry Weaver (weaversrj [at] aol [dot] com)

Talking to some old veterans,including one who surveyed the site prior to the bridge being built and others who was at the opening of the bridge,with the Veterans Honor Guard,alone with a 21 gun salute,who says the Original name of the bridge was "American Legion" Bridge to honor our deceased veterans. they are looking thru their old pictures to prove it. They say a bronze plaque naming the bridge was placed a the base of the bridge.

Any others remember the opening?