Caneadea Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caneadea Bridge |
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Caneadea Bridge, September 2012
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| Carries | County Road 46 |
| Crosses | Genesee River |
| Locale | Caneadea, New York |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Camel Parker Truss |
| Total length | 246 feet (75 m) |
| Width | 14 feet (4.3 m) |
| Clearance above | about 15 feet (4.6 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Groton Iron Bridge Co. |
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Caneadea Bridge
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001388 |
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1998 |
The Caneadea Bridge, also known as the East Hill Road Bridge, is a special steel truss bridge located in Caneadea, New York. It helps County Road 46 cross over the Genesee River. This bridge is very old and important. Because of its history and design, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Building the Caneadea Bridge
In 1902, a very big flood hit the area. It was so powerful that it washed away the old bridge. The town of Caneadea needed a new way to cross the river quickly.
So, the town hired a company called the Groton Iron Bridge Company. They were tasked with building a strong new bridge. The new bridge was finished in November 1903.
Why the Bridge is Important
The Caneadea Bridge is more than just a way to cross the river. It's a great example of early 20th-century bridge engineering. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
A study by the NYSDOT found something interesting. The Caneadea Bridge was the oldest and longest of only two "camelback truss" bridges left in New York state. This makes it a very special and rare bridge.
Bridge Closures and Reopening
In 1993, the bridge was declared unsafe. It had to be closed because the county couldn't afford to fix it. This closure caused problems for people living nearby. They had to drive a longer way around, going south to Belfast to cross the river.
A group called the "Save the Caneadea Bridge Committee" worked hard for 14 years. They raised money to repair the bridge. With their efforts and about $550,000 from the state, the bridge was finally fixed. It reopened in 2007, which was great news for the community.
However, the bridge had to close again on June 26, 2012. This was because parts of its structure had worn out. Engineers were hired in August 2012 to figure out what repairs were needed to open it safely again.
How the Bridge is Designed
The Caneadea Bridge is made of a single steel section. It measures about 246 feet (75 m) long and 14 feet (4.3 m) wide. This section rests on strong stone supports called abutments.
The bridge uses a special design called a "pin-connected, camelback Parker truss." This design helps make the bridge very strong. It sits about 15 feet (4.6 m) above the river. You can still see the original metal decorations on the ends of the bridge. These decorations even show the name of the company that built it and the old town names.
