Cities with bridges and/or tunnels

[ThatDarnSacramentan]

You might then appreciate some history of the bridge, including that the whole center span was sailed down the Willamette and hoisted into place.

• Video Link

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by dave8721

I was wondering. What draw bridge has the most lanes? I wondering because its impressive to see the 6-lane Brickell Avenue in Miami bridge go up though it technically is 2 separate 3 lane bridges (one for each direction) though they do go up simultaneously and there is only a tiny space between them. The 7th Avenue draw bridge has 5 lanes in a single slab.

Google is useless for such searches these days.


btw, it was super fun seeing the Tower Bridge go up as a pedestrian right behind the gate.

The Outer Drive Bridge on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago has 14 lanes on two levels, so it's gotta take the cake as "most lanes on a movable span" at least in North America. Steely has posted several photos of it in this thread.

Lake Shore Drive was designed as a parkway where trucks were, and still are, banned from driving. But at the time the Outer Drive Bridge was built in the 1930s, the area was heavily industrial and freight needed to cross the river. So the upper deck was designed for cars and personal vehicles only, while the lower deck was designed as a local street to carry trucks and a rail spur across the river. For the first 50 years there was nothing on the lower deck, but in 1982 as the industrial uses were waning the city built out the lower deck with six car lanes and no rail tracks to ease traffic congestion from tourists around Navy Pier.




In a similar vein, Houghton MI has a double-decker lift bridge across the Portage Canal with an unusual usage pattern. Originally the upper deck was for cars and the lower deck for trains. If a smaller boat needed to pass, the bridge could lift into an middle position and cars could drive across the lower deck (the train rails were set into an steel grating). If a large boat needed to pass, the bridge would lift even higher and cut off all traffic for a brief period.

Today, the trains are gone and the bridge stays in the middle position during summer months to let the small boats pass thru at all times, with the occasional lift to the highest position for really big boats. But in the winter months, when the Portage Canal is frozen and boat traffic stops, the bridge stays in the lower position, with cars on the upper deck and the lower deck (former train path) is used for snowmobiles!


Michigan Tech

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by jmecklenborg

I didn't know that the deck was recently rebuilt for the post-panamax ships.

When I was a boy my grade school's library had a book from around 1965 on the world's famous bridges, and the Bayonne Bridge was in it. I reread it many times over a 2-3 year period. I didn't take a particular interest in this bridge (I was much more interested in the long-span suspension bridges), but it's a little upsetting to see it bastardized with this modification.

It's interesting to note that a truly significant new bridge hasn't been built anywhere in the United States since the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge because there aren't any wider bodies of water to cross. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay and maybe the Gordie Howe Bridge are two newer landmarks, but they didn't bridge bodies of water that didn't already have a crossing.

It seems like the proposed bridge from Italy to Sicily aims to be a tourist attraction in its own right - i.e. their government hopes to bring more tourism and new economic life to that part of the country not so much by the functionality of the bridge but rather the spectacle of it.

well since you are taking an interest now, fyi the bayonne was reno'd to accomodate larger ships in 2017.

also, naturally the road ramps leading up to both sides were totally rebuilt and they look a bazillion times better than the old versions, so i dk why you are fretting.
check it out on street view today and the old version in the opening scenes of the tom cruise war of the worlds movie and you'll see.

[Innsertnamehere]

Hamilton has several bridges meeting the critera.

1. the Burlington Skyway is one of the most prominent features in the metro area. The first side, a suspended deck through-arch truss bridge, was built in 1958 and was tolled until 1973 (I actually have an old toll token for the bridge in my house somewhere). A second more traditional span was constructed in 1985. The first span is the longest, at 8,400ft and a 495ft main span. It is the largest bridge in Ontario that is not an international crossing. A shortcut around Burlington Bay, the bridge carries traffic from New York State, east Hamilton, and Niagara into the GTA. It carries around 175,000 cars a day.


https://versilis.com/projects/burlington-skyway-bridge/

2. Immediately beside it is Burlington Canal Lift bridge - a large 4 lane bridge which serves local traffic on the Burlington Bay spit. Unlike the Skyway, which is provincially owned, the Lift Bridge is federally owned (displayed prominently in this image). It's 381ft span lifts 120ft vertically to allow lakers to access Burlington Bay. You can see the pre-confederation Burlington Canal Lighthouse (1858) adjacent.



2. The Thomas B. McQuesten High Level Bridge is an 365ft art-deco bridge which serves as a primary arterial road entry to Downtown Hamilton. The bridge crosses over a major tributary into Burlington Bay (Cootes Paradise) as well as rail tracks connecting into Downtown Hamilton, creating a unique, multi-level type view.


https://www.reddit.com/r/Hamilton/comments/p0nvbo/thomas_b_mcquesten_high_level_bridge/

The bridge features wonderful art deco features:


https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=269845

4. Despite being technically the second longest bridge in the city by total span, the ~700ft bridge structure carrying the Red Hill Valley Parkway partially up an approach to the Niagara Escarpment has no name:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hamilt..._ep=EgoyMDI1MDkxMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

It is not particularly remarkable.

Though not Bridges technically, Hamiltons most interesting pieces of road infrastructure lie in it's mountian accesses - roads used to climb the ~300ft tall escarpment which runs right through the middle of the city.

The Claremont Access is the largest, initially built in the 1970's with 6 lanes of traffic (since downgraded to 4 due to rockslides and the addition of a bike lane). It has an interesting view with the Arkledun Access, which crosses it on an opposing angle:


https://thepublicrecord.ca/2023/11/clare...n-thursday-by-lunch-hour-city-hall-says/

The Sherman Access is older, with reversing lanes for peak periods and an interesting cut deep into the escarpment on it's uppermost extent which meets at a T intersection with roads declining down the escarpment in each direction:



It was constructed in the early 1930's:

[mrnyc]

i like the small, historic, charming local bridges a lot too.

the old 1800s king bridge company from cleveland has many all around the states.

list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Bridge_Company


merriam street bridge, nicollet island minneapolis




piermont, ny
.

swing bridge at new bridge landing, nj

[Innsertnamehere]

Toronto is not known as a City of bridges, but my count has at least 26 bridges which meet the criteria of being over 200ft long and in City Limits. Most are closer to that 200ft mark however. The City's many ravines create many opportunities for mid-sized bridge structures for roads to cross the river valleys.

It's most notable are:

1. The Prince Edward Viaduct - a 1,620ft truss arch bridge over the Don Valley. The bridge was constructed in 1918, with the forethought of pre-constructing a future lower level for a future subway line which did not arrive until 1964.

Today the bridge carries Bloor Street over the DVP and Don River, as well as the Bloor-Danforth subway line:


https://www.blogto.com/city/2015/11/5_quirky_facts_you_didnt_know_about_the_bloor_viaduct/

Much lesser known, but what is possibly the busiest bridge on the planet, is the Highway 401 Hoggs Hollow Bridge. The bridge carries 14 lanes of traffic across the river valley below, which amounts to a whopping 361,000 daily crossings in 2021. The bridge runs about 1,300ft at it's longest with about 120 feet of elevation drop to the valley floor.

The bridge is barely visible from any location with the valley below being well treed. Many crossing the structure do not even realize they are on a bridge due to it's excessive width and heavy tree cover below.



Another lesser known bridge is the Islington Avenue Bridge over the Willowbrook Train yard, at about 1,600ft. The bridge was built for 6 lanes but has only ever used 4:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willowbrook_Rail_Maintenance_Facility

[xzmattzx]

Originally Posted by dave8721

I was wondering. What draw bridge has the most lanes? I wondering because its impressive to see the 6-lane Brickell Avenue in Miami bridge go up though it technically is 2 separate 3 lane bridges (one for each direction) though they do go up simultaneously and there is only a tiny space between them. The 7th Avenue draw bridge has 5 lanes in a single slab.

Google is useless for such searches these days.


btw, it was super fun seeing the Tower Bridge go up as a pedestrian right behind the gate.

I wonder if it's the Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Washington Beltway. It looks like it's multiple bridges.

[BnaBreaker]

The Hernando DeSoto Bridge in Memphis is arguably Tennessee's best offering:

[jmecklenborg]

Originally Posted by BnaBreaker

The Hernando DeSoto Bridge in Memphis is arguably Tennessee's best offering:

Knoxville has two noteworthy bridges and they both smoke what Nashville has (which is nothing). Not sure that Memphis can completely claim the I-40 bridge since it shares it with Arkansas.

The Gay St. Bridge was built in 1898 and is pretty interesting, and somehow still has the original streetcar catenary on it. It was recently closed to vehicular traffic and the city wants to completely replace it in 10 years. Hopefully they are kicking the can until it can be successfully repaired, because there's no way that a new bridge will match it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fh3XH9Mt6g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnFLm7hfNdk

The Henley St. Bridge was built around 1930 and is much more robust. It's not going anywhere.

[jmecklenborg]

Double Post, sorry.

[Velvet_Highground]

A new favorite Detroit pic of mine.

https://www.bedrockdetroit.com/property/city-modern/

A classic Hubbard - Richard shot with St Anne’s Basilica Detroits oldest church dating back to 1701.

Vishal Patel - https://www.flickr.com/photos/40386452@N05/4669147990

Thank you Canada!

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-gordie-howe-bridge-windsor-economic-impact/

Ralph C Wilson Park is coming along and will be the spot for some awesome bridges of Detroit photography.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/nonprofits-philanthropy/ralph-c-wilson-centennial-park-open

Helmut killing it as always over at historicdetroit.org

Helmut Ziewers - https://historicdetroit.org/galleries/ambassador-bridge-photos

Bluewater Bridge living up to its name.

https://michpics.wordpress.com/2024/06/04/blue-water-bridges-2/

Downtown Port Huron.

https://www.homes.com/local-guide/port-huron-township-mi/?dk=4cscd8gr6m4dd&gm=1&tab=2


https://www.bluewater.org/area-info/our-communities/port-huron/

The new award winning Fort Street Bridge. “A record-setting, single-leaf bascule bridge proves innovation can also be economical. The Fort Street Bridge, a 176-ft bascule span in Detroit, is the heaviest bascule leaf in the world and second largest by deck area. It is also one of the most efficient to open due to the rolling-lift design.”

https://www.aisc.org/nsba/prize-bridge-awards/prize-bridge-winners/fort-street-bridge/

Detroit’s hard working river the Rouge with somewhat new I-75 bridge along with the old rail bridge as well as the Fort St bridge which a guy went full Blues Brothers on about a year ago wrecking his ride.

https://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/2021/10/fort-street-and-oakwood-blvd-over-rouge.html?m=1

Detroit - Windsor Rail Tunnel

https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/...el-project-secures-funding-from-michigan

Port Huron - Sarnia Rail Tunnel new and old, original almost hidden off to the right side.

https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/MI-01-SC14

Detroit - Windsor Tunnel

https://www.dwtunnel.com/

[iheartthed]

^No Belle Isle Bridge?!

Belle Isle Bridge, Detroit (oka MacArthur Bridge)

[iheartthed]

There are also 3 bridges that cross the Rouge River in Detroit:

Jefferson Avenue Rouge River Bridge


source: Flickr

Fort Street Bridge



source: https://www.aisc.org/nsba/prize-bridge-awards/prize-bridge-winners/fort-street-bridge/

I-75 Bridge over Rouge River



source: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l.../18/rouge-river-bridge-project/94080688/

[Ric 0_0]

Arthure Ravenel Jr. Bridge in Charleston, SC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm4bJekpNo8

[Velvet_Highground]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

^No Belle Isle Bridge?!

Belle Isle Bridge, Detroit (oka MacArthur Bridge)

Believe you me I tried Google Images was cracked out, clicking on any image would cause it to cycle through every image until it got back to the first one, smh lol. I’ve been looking for a good Belle Isle Bridge with the Hudsons’s Tower included, not that the bridge isn’t a work of art on its own just that Hudsons improves the eastern skyline dramatically.


https://www.reddit.com/r/Detroit/comments/1fgw4zo/a_lovely_friday_afternoon_on_belle_isle/

[pj3000]

Pittsburgh

1 - Ohio River Crossings (not including railroad bridges)


Sewickley Bridge


Neville Island I-79 Bridge


Fleming Park Bridge


McKees Rocks Bridge






West End Bridge

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

When I think of America's "Great Bridge Cities", the 3 that immediately jump into my mind are:

NYC
Bay Area
Pittsburgh

I'd be tempted to add Philadelphia as well since it has both major suspension bridges and numerous smaller bridges like the Schuylkill river crossings.

[pj3000]

Pittsburgh

2 - Allegheny River Crossings (not including railroad bridges)


Fort Duquesne Bridge






Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Street Bridges
aka Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol, and Rachel Carson Bridges
aka Three Sisters Three Sisters Bridges







Veterans Bridge - I-279
Boo!


16th Street Bridge
aka David McCullough Bridge




31st Street Bridge




Washington Crossing - 40th Street Bridge
This is located where George Washington nearly drowned in the icy waters of the Allegheny in 1753.




62nd Street Bridge


Highland Park Bridge




Hulton Bridge


Allegheny River Bridge - Pennsylvania Turnpike

[The North One]

Interesting that the Verrazano-Narrows bridge is the largest span in the country in the biggest city and yet it's completely forgotten about.

Meanwhile the Golden Gate bridge is a global icon of the United States.

I'm guessing because it's a rather ugly bridge.

[Cirrus]

Originally Posted by dave8721

What draw bridge has the most lanes?

Originally Posted by xzmattzx

I wonder if it's the Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Washington Beltway

Almost certainly. When the Wilson Bridge opened in 2008 it was reported to be the widest major bridge in the world of any type. Nobody mentions that anymore so I assume some bridge somewhere has surpassed it, but whatever that bridge is, odds are low it's a draw bridge.

It opens about 60 times per year.


photo from patch.com