Those welded marks on the compression member are likely high water marks from floods in the region.
Visited this bridge on Saturday, 10 Feb 2007, at approx 3 pm.
Tubular iron gates on each end restrict vehicle access.
Wooden decking has deteriorated, but the running boards appear to be in usable condition.
Large sheets of plexiglass have been dumped at one approach and there is some older graffiti on the large truss member where the plaque is located.
One curious thing noticed was that on the left side main truss there were several dates stick welded to the steel member (possible from welding repairs - 1915, 1916, 1927 & 1932). They appear to have been done by the same person. There is another plate at the crown of the bridge (painted red) that reads "National Historical Bridge Built 1909). The letters and date are formed from welding beads, similar the welding repair dates on the truss. All probably done by the same welder.
Bridge approaches are viney & weedy, making it difficult to get a good profile view. Banks are slick and debris ladden from recent rise.
This bridge is within sight of a large electrical generating plant that has the appearance of being a nuclear facility with two massive cooling towers.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
I'm from Newark :) The power plant you see is run by Entergy and it's NOT nuclear. It actually is a transfer plant for the South Ward of New Orleans (The South Ward gets its power from the Newark plant.) Growing up I heard so many stories of the "Cry Baby Bridge" as so many people have. To be honest despite its age and prestige, this is a VERY creepy bridge!