US 1 Stony Creek Bridge

With a main span length of just 90 feet, crossing a mere creek in rural Southside Virginia, few would be inclined to pay this bridge much attention. Yet its extremely rare design, a concrete through arch, placess it among the most significant in the state. Only a small number of these beautiful bridges remain in the nation, the vast majority of which are in Oregon, where the design was built with frequency under the direction of famed bridge designer Conde McCullough. While this bridge may lack the ornate Art Deco details that McCullough included in his designs, its pleasing rainbow curves make it stand out as one of the most architecturally beautiful bridges in the state.

The main load-bearing components of the bridge are the arches, which are stout in size, perhaps reflecting the era's moderate amount on confidence in the strength of reinforced concrete. The arches start parallel to the roadway and the railings, then curve upward before returning to the same level at the other side. The ends of the arches are tied together with slabs that run parallel to the road deck and sit slightly above it (they also function as curbs). These slabs are what keep the arches in compression, and allow the bridge to sit atop simple load-bearing piers. Suspended from the arches are a series of columns, which in turn connect to the floor beams that hold the road deck up. The columns are square in design with little architectural detail. The arches are also connected to one another by two bracing beams, which curve slightly in a way similar to the arches.

The bridge's two approach spans follow Virginia's standard tee-beam design in which the beams curve slightly above the piers before leveling out for the greater length of the span. The railings also follow the standard plan, being of the functional concrete "fence" design that hardly convey the aesthetics often valued in the 1920s and 30s. Of note is how the horizontal sections of the railing are "inserted" into the inside ends of the arches. The only sort of plaque on the bridge is a Virginia State Highway Commission date plate attached to the railing, which says nothing about the bridge's history.

Up until 1996 there was a near-twin to this structure, also in Dinwiddie County on US 1. This structure was built in the same year as this one and crossed the Nottoway River. Its main span featured the same dimensions at the Stony River Bridge, but it had six approach spans instead of two. Sadly, it was dynamited in favor of a dull modern structure that is wholly forgettable in all aspects. Prior to its disappearance from the landscape, it was documented by the Historical American Engineering Record. In addition to providing photos of this vanished structure, the HAER entry includes a document that provides an overview of the bridge's design and history. It mentions the Stony Creek Bridge as well, noting that it was constructed by Hankins and Collins of Richmond in the same year as the Nottoway River Bridge. The entry can be viewed here.

This bridge is adjacent to the 1946 Stony Creek Bridge, which carries US 1 Northbound.

Facts

Year erected: 1927
Builder: Hankins and Collins of Richmond, VA
Route Carried: US 1 Southbound
Crosses: Stony Creek
Location: Dinwiddie County, VA.
Design: Concrete through tied arch main span; Two curved concrete tee beam approach spans.
Inside width: 23 ft., two lanes
Length of main span: 89.9 ft. Total length: 167 ft.
National Bridge Inventory ID: 5909
Coordinates: 37° 4'1.79"N, 77°36'9.50"W