Jamestown Bridge Demo...

[TORQUE THIS]

http://www.wtnh.com/global/video/popup/pop_player. asp?ClipID1=757641&h1=Jamestown%20Bridge%20is%20destroyed-%20video%20courtesy%20WPRI&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=70667&LaunchPageAdTag=Homepage&activePane=info&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.wtnh.com/&rnd=65024162

 

[AMink]

Cool. I can't believe they were allowed to drop it in the water. All that oil from cars, the dust, steel, etc. What about the fish? WHAT ABOUT THE FISH?! :{

 

[fkovalski]

I went to school in Bristol RI and traveled over that bridge many of times! It has been quite a while since I've been back. Has the rest of the roadway to the bridge been completed? I remember it was a 2 lane road at just over the CT/ RI border (from I-95) to head to the coast to eventually head towards Newport. I think there were a couple of more bridges- (Newport Bridge still there?)... (been awile- hard to remember the exact towns/ road numbers. . etc)

 

[Rotty]

amink, i understand you complaint, but what happens when it rains? That bridge was open metal. It all went into the river every time it rained anyways.

I am not trying to cause controversy, just full understanding.

 

[AMink]

Rotty, not a complaint, just tongue in cheek. The way things are going, I'm surprised we don't have to take structures down rivet by rivet! :-laf There was a show on Modern Marvels tonight about construction/destruction. Pretty cool stuff.

 

[hammersley]

Just for Fun - why did they take it down?????

Lots of places have kept bridges up and used them for other stuff pedestrian malls - really neat locations... ... .

 

[tugboatphil]

I was still in Norfolk, Va when they replaced the Coleman Bridge, that connects Yorktown with Gloucester Point. The old span was a 2 lane swing bridge and was to be replaced with a 4 lane. The folks that lived in Gloucester and worked in places south of the river were to have 60 miles extra to drive during the replacement process.



The bridge was constructed on top of pilings just south of the Naval Base. It was built in 6 sections, with each one already paved, wired and plumbed. When it was complete, the sections were floated off the pilings and onto barges and moved up to the site by tugs. The old bridge was lifted in a similar manner and moved out of the way.



Once the new bridge was in position, the wires and pipes were connected so that the pre-fabbed unit was ready for service. Due to the inconvenience of the process, the State had allowed the construction company 30 days for the procedure. They completed the bridge swap in 8.



The old bridge was taken back down to the construction site and placed onto the pilings. Charges were placed and they dropped the old one into the water. It's much easier salvaging that way.



I was still running a tug at the Naval Base and got to see a lot of this up close. It was amazing to me that they would even think of this, let alone swapping out those bridges in just 8 days. VDOT made a video of the whole thing and I used to have a copy. I looked for it and don't know what I did with it.

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Some info here...


http://www.artinruins.com/arch/rip/jamestown/index.php

 

[nps]

Wow - those still photos sure provide perspective on the height of that bridge - much better than the video.



Sounds like they just let it rot since 1992. Why did the Coast Guard declare it a hazard to navigation - falling debris?

 

[loncray]

They're replacing the Woodrow Wilson bridge on I95 between Virginia and Maryland right now. They've got the first new span just about done - expected to open in June - and they've already opened the new drawspan once for a big ship. This is the only interstate drawbridge in the system, I'm told. Once the new span is functional, they're going to tear down the old bridge so they can build a second new span. I'm sure it will be a big news item around here when the old bridge starts going away - it's a big deal to folks around here, whether they're commuters or tourists.

 

[Andy Perreault]

This is the only interstate drawbridge in the system, I'm told.

I-5 between Vancouver Washington and Portland Oregon has a drawbridge over the Columbia River. Just a few days ago, I had to wait in line while it was open. First time I ever had to do that. I thought it was the only drawbridge in the interstate highway system. I didn't know there was one on I-95.

Andy

 

[loncray]

Then we both just learned something new! The Woodrow Wilson Bridge is on the southern end of the Washington Beltway (I495/I95) and usually only opens for tall sailing ships and the ships bringing newsprint to Robinson Terminal. It's been a bottleneck on the Beltway for many years now, but the new twin spans will be MUCH nicer. They're also a lot higher, thus ending the every-few-days lifting of the drawspan. I read someplace that the motors that lift each 40+ ton span are about the same horsepower as a minivan - that's how well-balanced the swinging parts are.