Have you ever driven over an historic bridge – like a really old and fascinating structure? I’m not talking about a bridge that looks old due to potholes down the middle and moss along the railing. No, the bridges I’m talking about are amazing feats of engineering design that stand the test of time: steel metal truss bridges, a bridge supported by beautiful stonework, movable swing span or lift span structures. These functional works of art were constructed before the modern technology and construction methods we know today.
While I am by no means an expert in history, I have truly gained an appreciation for it during my 14-year environmental career in transportation. I’ve transitioned from thinking, “They’re just big piles of dirt,” when visiting a fort along the banks of the Stono River in Charleston, SC to eagerly photographing a one-lane steel frame bridge with a wooden deck over the Enoree River in Enoree, SC.
Preserving History Through Bridges
In June 2022, I had the privilege of hearing a presentation by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) about a Historic Bridge Inventory Report prepared by Mead & Hunt’s bridge historians. This report assessed the 150 historic bridges within the state to determine which bridges are preservation-priority bridges and worth investing in rehabilitation and funding. The analysis resulted in a list of 33 bridges LADOTD would allocate funds towards for their rehabilitation and maintenance for at least 20 years to extend the bridges’ viable lifespan.
You may think the “easy” thing to do would be to just replace these structures with modern designs, and in some cases, this may be the best path forward, but there is so much lost when these structures are decommissioned. Private landowners, parks, and other entities can purchase the structures for other uses, but they are extremely expensive to relocate, so many times this option is cost prohibitive.
Sometimes when these structures are no longer suited for vehicular traffic, they can be given a new life as a pedestrian crossing. A few years ago, Mead & Hunt rehabilitated the Glendale Bridge, pictured at the top of this article, which was originally built in 1928. It was taken out of commission as a roadway crossing in 1978, but it now serves as a beautiful pedestrian crossing over Lawson’s Fork Creek at Glendale Shoals Preserve in Glendale, SC.
Preservation Isn’t Always Possible
When relocation or rehabilitation isn’t a viable solution, the structure is demolished – so other than documentation of the structure, there is nothing left. The aesthetics of the crossing are changed forever, especially along the coast where large flyover bridges are required to meet tall vertical clearances for sailing and shrimping boats.
US 21 swing span bridge over the Harbor River in St. Helena Island, SC is a recent example of the dramatic change a bridge can have on the landscape. In June 2021, I had the amazing experience of witnessing the demolition of the footer that previously supported this swing span bridge. While unfortunately the structure itself was not relocated to a park, it has been memorialized with a movable model-size replica at Hunting Island State Park, SC.
Don’t get me wrong – replacement is sometimes necessary! The movable structures, particularly along the coastline, need someone onsite to operate them or they must be retrofitted with remote operation. Without this movement, either watercraft or land transportation or both are restricted from crossing. If they get stuck in an open position or damaged, island residents may be stranded for hours, which is a safety concern for those involved. Replacing these movable structures with taller fly over structures allows all types of transportation to move freely without interference.
It’s a tough balancing act – funding, planning, and maintenance of a historic structure vs. the permanent loss of living history and a dramatic change in the aesthetics of the landscape. Rehabilitation and continued use can be an option for some structures, where other structures may require replacement. If rehabilitation is not a viable option, let’s appreciate their unique beauty while we can.
