Preservation Photos #219

The picturesque village green of Newfane, VT.

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A Replacement Bridge

Sometimes in transportation, our bridges cannot be saved (which can only be said after a Section 4(f) evaluation). Reasons often relate to safety or structural deficiency or loss of integrity, among other items. It’s a complex law and evaluation. Large bridges like the Champlain Bridge are rare projects; often bridge projects are much smaller.

Remember the Newfane Bridge?

The 1945 Newfane Bridge.

Recently I drove through Newfane and saw its replacement. It was a historic bridge located within a historic district. To the public this means that a bridge replacement (if determined to be the only feasible and prudent alternative) will be a context sensitive solution; i.e., compatible with its surroundings.

Looking east. May 2013.

Looking to the west. May 2013.

The approach rail.

The railing, endwall, and approach rail.

The endwall with guardrail inset.

Side view of the bridge girder and railing.

New bridges will not look like the old bridges due to engineering designs, traffic safety, modern vehicles, modern materials, etc. How do you, as a historic preservationist, or a community member feel about historic bridge replacement?

Newfane Bridge

Sending some Christmas cheer from Vermont, historic bridge style. Combining inspiration from Preservation Photos #110 and #111, here is a concrete post & metal tube railing bridge located in the Village of South Newfane. These photographs were taken on a rainy December day, but the lack of sun allowed the bridge details and the color of the concrete and metal to pop. Take a look at this lovely bridge.

Bridge marker. Constructed in 1945.

View from the west. This bridge fits into the village nicely.

Looking east from the other side of the bridge.

Nice view through the railing.

View looking west, standing in the middle of the bridge. Note the narrow sidewalks and the drainage beneath the sidewalks.

Railing detail. You can slightly see the curvature of the bridge, too.

Looking down at the concrete post and metal railing.

More connection details.

It's camouflage with the landscape this time of year.

A former highway marker adjacent to the bridge.

What do you think of such bridges? Are you ready to love them, too?

Preservation Photos #110

Directional sign in the village of South Newfane, VT.

In Vermont you can find white road signs like those above and brown wooden (seemingly hand carved) road signs among the modern era green directional signs.