Butt Memorial Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Butt Memorial Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 33°28′43″N 81°59′03″W / 33.478525°N 81.984041°W |
| Carries | 15th Street |
| Crosses | Augusta Canal |
| Locale | Augusta, Georgia |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Stone |
| History | |
| Opened | 1914 |
The Butt Memorial Bridge is a special road bridge in Augusta, Georgia. It carries 15th Street over the Augusta Canal. This bridge is named after Major Archibald Willingham Butt. He was born in Augusta and sadly died when the famous ship, the RMS Titanic, sank.
The Butt Memorial Bridge was built in 1914. President William Howard Taft, a close friend of Major Butt, officially opened it. This bridge is important because it was the very first memorial built to remember the Titanic disaster. It is also the only memorial in Georgia dedicated to that event.
The bridge is made of strong stone. It has four tall pillars. These pillars have bronze-banded globes on top that light up. You can also see four lion statues on each side of the bridge. These lions have special plaques on them. Lights are strung from one end of the bridge to the other. In the middle of the bridge, there is a plaque honoring Major Butt.
The bridge was designed by William Henry Deacy, an architect. Nisbet Wingfield, a civil engineer, also helped. The W. W. Leland Company built the bridge.
Saving the Butt Bridge
In 1994, the future of the Butt Bridge was uncertain. City planners wanted to get $15 million from the Federal Highway Administration. Their plan was to change the route of 15th Street. This new plan meant the Butt Bridge would be torn down.
A group called the Butt Memorial Bridge Legal Defense Fund was started by Ross Snellings. They began a popular movement to save the 80-year-old bridge. They held two big concerts nearby, jokingly called the "Butt Jam." One concert was in 1994, and another was in 1995. Many well-known bands played at these events. The unofficial slogan, "Save Our Butt," was seen all over town.
The money raised from these concerts helped protect the bridge for a few years. Then, a special Act of Congress finally saved it. The Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Appropriations Act, 1999 included money for Augusta. This funding was thanks to U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell and U.S. Representative Charlie Norwood. It provided nearly $9 million for street and railroad improvements near 15th Street.
Bridge Upgrades and Repairs
In 2016, the bridge received a $1.5 million upgrade. This project added a new concrete surface. It also changed the lanes to include space for bikes and sidewalks. Workers also repaired and preserved the historical decorations. These included special eagle lanterns.
On August 22, 2016, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) closed the bridge. It was closed for up to 300 days for a full deck replacement. The goal was to reopen the bridge before the 2017 Masters Tournament. Local engineers hoped all the deck work would be finished in time.
There was a delay because of cold weather. The bridge then opened temporarily on March 31, 2017. After the Masters week, it closed again. This was for the installation of new lights and flashers. The entire project was completed in April 2017.
