Steel Bridge Road Bridge

Crossing of the West Fork Pigeon River

How often do you encounter a state-maintained through truss bridge over a river that leads only to what appears to be a gated private driveway? A bridge that leads to a falling down gate with "Beware of Dog" signs, a USGS stream gaging station, and a grassy river trail, all with modern signage that warns of potential hazards as low overhead clearance, narrow deck width, and light capacity? Using the looser political definition as opposed to the literal one, this is a "Bridge to Nowhere." But why? Let the possibilities flow: the entrance to a long-dead state politician's private retreat? A way into a community that was never built? North Carolina's equivalent of Area 51? Or did I merely overlook the road that is actually there? In any case, the bridge's raison d'être was certainly not apparent.

The mystery aside, this is a really nice little bridge over a scenic section of the West Fork Pigeon River. The rocks, gentle water, hills, trees, and the red and silver steel cage make for a pretty scene as one rounds the corner on southbound NC 215. The configuration of the bridge, a five-panel pin-connected Pratt through truss, is not an uncommon one, but a special encounter in a truss-deprived state. Design-wise the bridge is identical to the Rocky River Truss Bridge in Chatham County, NC, a structure built around the same time by the Atlantic Bridge Company. While I will not say that this bridge is built by the same company (the bridge has no plaque), it is apparent that both were built to the same spec. For example, the sway bracing, beams at the top of the bridge that connect the trusses together, uses the same type of T-shaped style of beam.

Diagonal members on the bridge are either eyebers with teardrop-shaped openings or long rods complete with turnbuckles to adjust their tension. The six middle vertical members are built up in order to single beam; they consist of two C-channel sections connected together using v-lacing (the "zigzag" pattern). Both the top chords and front posts use v-lacing as well, but only on the side facing down. The bottom chord consists of parallel sets of eyebars. While there are rivets in the beams, all connections are made with pins.

This bridge has retained its original pipe-style railings, rather than receiving the typical Armco railing modification that most NCDOT-maintained truss bridges receive. While this old railing is minimalist in nature, it manages the blend in with the trusses, whereas shiny modern railings would contrast with the bridge's rust red color.