Bridge

Buckman Bridge : Jacksonville, FL
This is a 3.1 mile bridge carrying I-295 traffic over the St. John's River in Jacksonville, Florida!
When I first moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1992, someone warned me about driving on the Buckman Bridge. "You don't want to get stuck in rush hour traffic on the Buckman!" That warning did make an impression on me because for several years, I would NOT even consider a job where I had to cross that bridge. Well, as things would have it, an opportunity arose for a marketing manager position with a Fortune 100 company in Orange Park. Hmmm, that meant tackling the Buckman Bridge twice dai...

Main Street Bridge : Jacksonville, FL
It's a lift bridge that originally opened in July 1941 at a cost of $1.5 million to carry traffic ov
If you drive into downtown Jacksonville from the southside, you'll most likely cross over the Main Street Bridge. What's interesting is that I don't recall ever being stopped for this lift bridge when traveling into downtown; only when traveling out of downtown. Well, it is quite impressive to see the bridge in operation. It is made of eleven steel stringer spans and three Warren through trusses. The 365-foot long continuous truss vertical lift span at the center is the longest i...

Dames Point Bridge : Jacksonville, FL
Officially the Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge, it's a cable-stayed bridge over the St. Johns Rive
Of all the bridges in Jacksonville, Florida, the Dames Point Bridge is by far the most attractive. It spans two miles and was completed in 1989. When I worked for a terpene chemicals company on the northside, I traveled on this bridge twice daily for nearly five years. It was undoubtedly the BEST part of my morning and evening drive ... except when it was foggy! What about cable-stayed bridges? They are described as elegant and efficient and even economical. That's curious, you know. These t...

Fuller Warren Bridge : Jacksonville, FL
Completed in 2002, it's a segmental bridge that carries traffic over the St. Johns River in Jacksonv
Thank goodness for segmental bridges like the new Fuller Warren Bridge. The old Fuller Warren Bridge, built in 1954, was "antique-like" for the amount of traffic that Jacksonville, Florida boasts. You see the old bridge was a bascule which basically means a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic. If you've never experienced a bascule, it means that the traffic has to STOP to wait ...

Acosta Bridge : Jacksonville, FL
It's a fixed span bridge carrying traffic over the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. Say hel
The Acosta Bridge is definitely of one of my favorite bridges in Jacksonville, Florida. It's a fixed span, which is great as you don't need to wait while it's raised and lowered for boat traffic below. The Acosta Bridge is also very clean and relatively short. But, the reason I like it so much is that it is "adorned" with the most fabulous night-lighting with those bluish-purple neon lights. If you happen to have the opportunity to visit Jacksonville, Florida, may I suggest a tr...

Mathews Bridge: Jacksonville, FL
It's a steel through truss bridge that crosses the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. Say hel
The Mathews Bridge in Jacksonville, Florida spans the St. Johns River, bringing traffic along Arlington Expressway between Arlington and Downtown. The Mathews Bridge was named after John E. Mathews, a Florida state legislator and Chief Justice of the 1955 Florida Supreme Court who helped gather funding for the bridge's construction. The Mathews Bridge had a bit of controvery in the problematic steel grating that's been responsible for a number of accidents. A $12.9 million project re...

Hart Bridge : Jacksonville, FL
Officially named the Isaiah David Hart Bridge, after the founder of Jacksonville, Florida; the Hart
The Hart Bridge in Jacksonville, Florida is the major bridge we travel on when crossing the St. Johns River for Jacksonville Jaguars games. The Hart Bridge drops us at the stadium a short distance from our tailgating parking lot. Other traffic usually arrives into downtown for the game via either the Mathews Bridge or the Main Street Bridge. What many people may not know is that the Hart Bridge was named after Isaiah David Hart, was a Georgia plantation owner, who is credited with being the...

Newport Transporter Bridge
Newport Transporter Bridge a World Wonder
The Newport Transporter Bridge is a working transporter bridge that crosses the River Usk in Newport, South Wales. It is a Grade I listed structure. Designed by French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin, it was built in 1906 and opened by Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar on 12 September 1906. The span is an example of the very rare transporter bridge concept, of which only eight exist worldwide.