Black Warrior/Northport Bridge
Photos
Northport Bridge
Bridge before relocation
Photo from Friends of Northport website
BH Photo #176774
Description
This historic bridge has been renovated, converted into a pedestrian bridge, and moved into a park.Facts
- Overview
- Bowstring through truss bridge
- Location
- Northport, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
- Status
- Open to pedestrians only.
- History
- Built 1882; Only known remaining span (out of 4) of Alabama's oldest iron bridge.
- Builder
- - King Bridge Co. of Cleveland, Ohio
- Design
- Wrought iron Bowstring through truss
- Also called
- Espey Bridge
Old King Bridge - Approximate latitude, longitude
- +33.22278, -87.59857 (decimal degrees)
33°13'22" N, 87°35'55" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/444224/3676144 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Tuscaloosa
- Inventory number
- BH 46099 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- September 12, 2018: Updated by Ben Tate: Park is now open
- May 20, 2011: Updated by Ben Tate: Bridge restoration complete.
- September 8, 2010: Added by Anthony Dillon
Sources
- Tony Dillon - spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com
- Ben Tate - benji5221 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Comments
Sounds like the part will be opened soon!:
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20151025/NEWS/15102977...
This bridge was not harmed by the tornado. The tornado ran south of Northport in Tuscaloosa and missed Northport completely. The park it was relocated to is in development. It is not yet open to the public. King Bridge Co stated:
"Great news!! After close to a decade of hard work on the part of the Friends of Historic Northport, this 1882 King Bowstring has found a new home. It is being placed in a 200 acre area near Kentuck Park and the Tuscaloosa Airport that was once part of a large plantation and will become the Van de Graff Arboretum. It will serve on a walking path and may possibly joined by other old bridges as part of an historic bridge display in the future. Once part of a four span bowstring bridge across the Black Warrior River, one 187 foot span was relocated to a remote site in Tuscaloosa County many years ago where it was discovered and carefully looked after by a group of dedicated “pontists” from the FHN group who orchestrated its removal in 2008 and rehabilitation by the CraneWorks and McAbee Construction Company. The work has now been completed the structure set in its new home awaiting a dedication ceremony on October 30, 2010. Ken Willis and Chuck Gerdau of FHN deserve special plaudits from the historic bridge preservation community for their inspirational, tireless and now successful efforts."
I called the Northport Heritage Museum at (205)339-8891 and was given permission to go see the bridge. The entrance is blocked by a yellow gate. The park is under development, but if you call this number they should tell you it's OK to go back there. I do not recommend going without permission though since it's private property.
I hope this bridge was not affected by the storms and tornadoes. It had been fully restored and placed as an exhibit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48810982@N06/5129882762/in/set-...
On another note, I wonder why they put such massive railings on this bridge given it doesn't even cross anything.
Here is a link for the restoration of this bridge. Sounds like another historic bridge park may be in the making!
http://www.northportgazette.com/articles/2010/09/02/news/doc...
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/al/tuscaloosa/northport/
Van de Graaff Park has been open for several months now, with the bridge installed over a stream coming out of a lake.