Abt Bascule Bridge

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Abt bascule bridges follow Hugo A.F. Abt's U.S. patent #1,394,519. The patented bridges were built by American Bridge Company.

John A. Schultz Jr. of Hazelet and Erdal Inc. commented in a 1994 presentation at the 5th Biennial Symposium at Heavy Movable Structures Inc that there were only eight Abt bascule bridges built. This category identifies eight bridges, therefore this is believed to be a complete list of all Abt bascule bridges ever built.

BNSF - Bacon Island Bridge (San Joaquin County, California)
Built 1929.
Pony/through plate girder bridge over Middle River on BNSF Railroad (single track)
Open to traffic

BNSF - San Joaquin River Bridge (San Joaquin County, California)
Built 1930.
Through truss with pony truss bascule bridge over San Joaquin River on BNSF Railroad
Open to traffic

BNSF - Woodward Island bridge (Contra Costa County, California)
Built 1928.
Abt type Bascule Bridge over Old River on BNSF and Amtrak RR ( single track)
Open to traffic

CN - Manitowoc Bascule Railroad Bridge (Manitowoc County, Wisconsin)
Built 1926; Removed 2011
Through plate girder Abt bascule bridge over Manitowoc River on Wisconsin Central Railroad
Removed but not replaced

CSX - Black River Bridge (St. Clair County, Michigan)
Built 1931
Warren through truss with all verticals bridge over Black River on Pere Marquette Railroad (abandoned)
Closed to all traffic; the yacht club that now owns the bridge proposed to demolish it as of December 2011; preservation group has offered to acquire lease it but club wants it moved off-site

CSX - Saginaw River Bridge (Saginaw County, Michigan)
Built 1944
Warren through truss with all verticals bridge over Saginaw River on CSX RR
Open to traffic

NS - Rouge River Bridge (N) (Wayne County, Michigan)
Built 1922
Warren through truss with all verticals bridge over Rouge River on Norfolk Southern RR (formerly Wabash RR)
Open to traffic

SP - Neches River Bridge (1941) (Jefferson County, Texas)
Opened in 1941, abandoned in 1967, and removed in 1969.
Lost Warren through truss Abt bascule bridge over Neches River on Railroad (Southern Pacific)
Removed but not replaced