Gholson Bridge

Iron Bridge Road Crossing of the Meherrin River

While Virginia has a fair number of pin-connected truss bridges remaining, few were built by companies other than the Virginia Bridge and Iron Company. This Wrought Iron Bridge Company structure, constructed in 1884, is a member of that select class. As such, it is one of the most important historic bridges in the state. This significance has been recognized for a number of years now, as it was posted to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The bridge consists of two Pratt truss spans of different lengths. The span over the Meherrin River consists of seven panels and is 103 feet in length. The floodplain span is about 80-90 feet long and has six panels. All structural components are identical on the two spans. All vertical members are lightweight I-beams, which indicates that the bridge was built for lightweight wagon traffic. The diagonal members near the front posts have threads on the ends, so that adjustments for tension can be made. These threads are covered by the distinctive Wrought Iron Bridge Co. cast iron caps that display the bridge's manufacture date; the fact that not all of these have been stolen over the years is surprising. The top chord consists of built-up beams held together by plates; this appears to be typical of Wrought Iron Bridge Company structures. The structure is supported by a granite pier and abutments.

According to the Historical American Engineering Record's documentation of the bridge, it stands on the same location that it was originally erected at. It has sustained very little modification, and appears almost the same as it did 125+ years ago. Both bridge plaques remain, which prominently state the builder as well as the politicians who saw to its construction. The most obviously modifications made to the structure are the spliced-in welded sections of steel on the front posts, which repaired damage sustained in collisions.

Today this bridge carries 768 vehicles per day, which is somewhat of a high count for a bridge originally constructed for wagons. In contrast, the nearby VA 46 bridge, which is located on a 55 MPH highway, carries 2705 VPD, giving you an idea of the low population density of the area. It seemed that a car would cross the bridge every few minutes, with many racing across it at 25 MPH. With this amount of usage and 0% sufficiency rating, this bridge will undoubtedly need some attention in the near future.

Facts

Year Built: 1884
Builder: Wrought Iron Bridge Co. of Canton, OH.
Route Carried: Iron Bridge Road
Crosses: Meherrin River
Location: Brunswick County, VA.
Design: Seven-panel, pin-connected Pratt through truss (south span); Six-panel, pin-connected Pratt through truss (north span).
Inside width: 11.2 ft., one lane
Length of largest span: 103.1 ft. Total structure length: 191.9 ft.
National Bridge Inventory ID: 3767
Coordinates: 36°53'42.98"N, 79°20'36.86"W