Columbia–Wrightsville Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Veterans Memorial BridgeColumbia–Wrightsville Bridge |
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Looking west over the Susquehanna River
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| Coordinates | 40°01′44″N 76°31′01″W / 40.02889°N 76.51694°W |
| Carries | 2 lanes of   PA 462 / BicyclePA Route S |
| Crosses | Susquehanna River |
| Locale | Wrightsville, Pennsylvania and Columbia, Pennsylvania |
| Official name | Veterans Memorial Bridge |
| Maintained by | PennDOT |
| ID number | 360462001000000 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | concrete deck arch bridge |
| Total length | 6,657 feet (2,029 m) |
| Width | 48 feet (15 m) |
| Longest span | 185 feet (56 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | September 30, 1930 (95 years ago) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 10,350 (2004) |
| Toll | was $0.25 for cars when opened; toll no longer collected |
The Veterans Memorial Bridge is also known as the Columbia–Wrightsville Bridge. It crosses the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. This bridge connects the towns of Columbia and Wrightsville, Pennsylvania. It carries Pennsylvania Route 462 and BicyclePA Route S.
Construction on the bridge began in 1929. It opened on September 30, 1930. On November 11, 1980, it was officially named the Veterans Memorial Bridge. However, many local people still call it the Columbia–Wrightsville Bridge.
Engineers from the American Society of Civil Engineers have called it a "splendid example" of early 20th-century bridge design. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The bridge is part of the historic Lincoln Highway. This was America's first highway that crossed the entire country.
Contents
Bridge History
Building the Bridge
James B. Long designed the Veterans Memorial Bridge. It was built by the Wiley-Maxon Construction Company. The bridge cost about $2.5 million to build in 1930.
It is made of strong, reinforced concrete. The bridge is about 5,183 feet (1,579 meters) long over the river. Including the parts over land, it is 6,657 feet (2,029 meters) long. It has 27 piers in the river and 22 piers on land.
The bridge has a two-lane road that is 38 feet (12 meters) wide. It also has a sidewalk that is 6 feet (1.8 meters) wide. Workers used a lot of concrete and steel to build it. They even built special temporary walls called coffer dams to help with construction in the water.
When the bridge first opened, drivers paid a 25-cent toll. This toll ended on January 31, 1943. This was after the money borrowed to build it was paid back. Some of the original bronze light fixtures from the bridge can still be seen in Columbia today.
The Bridge Today
In the 1970s, the state thought about closing the bridge. This was because a new bridge, the Wright's Ferry Bridge, had opened nearby. But local people wanted to keep it open. So, the bridge was repaired instead. It was only closed for a short time during these repairs.
Today, PennDOT takes care of the bridge. It is still known as the world's longest concrete multiple-arch bridge. In 2004, about 10,350 vehicles crossed it each day. This bridge is the fifth one to cross the river in this area.
Plans are being made to fix up the bridge again. This project will also improve the roads at both ends. It will add paths for walking and biking to nearby parks. There are even ideas to add lights under the bridge to help with annual mayfly swarms. This project is expected to cost about $54 million. Construction might start in late 2022 or early 2023.
The Wright's Ferry Bridge is another bridge that crosses the river between Columbia and Wrightsville. It is about half a mile (0.8 km) north of the Veterans Memorial Bridge. This bridge opened in 1972. It cost $12 million to build. It has four lanes for cars and no walkway. No tolls have ever been collected on this bridge.
Earlier Bridges
Five bridges have crossed the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Wrightsville. Each one faced challenges from nature or history.
First Bridge (1814-1832)
The first bridge was built between 1812 and 1814. It cost about $231,771. This bridge was 5,690 feet (1,734 meters) long and 30 feet (9.1 meters) wide. It had 54 piers. It was a covered bridge made of wood and stone. It was thought to be the longest covered bridge in the world at that time.
Drivers paid $1.50 for a wagon with six horses. People walking paid six cents. This bridge served traffic for 14 years. But on February 5, 1832, it was destroyed by ice and high water.
Second Bridge (1834-1863)
A second covered bridge was built in the same spot. Construction started in 1832 and finished in 1834. It cost $157,300. This bridge was 5,620 feet (1,713 meters) long and 28 feet (8.5 meters) wide. It also had 27 piers. It was also known as the world's longest covered bridge.
This bridge was made mostly from oak wood salvaged from the first bridge. It had a road, a walkway, and paths for canal boats. These paths helped boats cross the river from one canal to another. Later, a railway track was added. But trains were pulled by mules or horses to prevent fires.
The Civil War and the Second Bridge
During the American Civil War, the bridge played an important role. On June 28, 1863, Confederate troops were advancing. To stop them from crossing the river, Union soldiers burned the bridge. They had soaked it with crude oil.
The entire bridge caught fire and burned down in six hours. Confederate generals had hoped to save the bridge. But the Union forces burned it to protect the area. The bridge owners asked the government for money for the damage. But they never received any.
Third Bridge (1868-1896)
The Pennsylvania Railroad built the third bridge. It started in 1868 and finished that same year. This covered bridge was 5,390 feet (1,643 meters) long. It cost $400,000. It was made of stone, wood, and steel. It had 27 piers, a road, a railway, and a walkway. This bridge was destroyed on September 30, 1896, by a hurricane.
Fourth Bridge (1897-1964)
The fourth bridge was called the Pennsylvania Railroad "Iron Bridge." Construction began on April 16, 1897. It was finished very quickly, by May 11, 1897. This was considered the fastest bridge-building job in the world at the time.
It was a steel bridge designed to resist fire, ice, water, and wind. It was built on the same 27 piers as the two bridges before it. It opened on June 7, 1897. It had a railway for trains and two lanes for cars and people walking.
Tolls were collected to help pay for the half-million dollar cost. Cars paid 20 cents, plus four cents per passenger. People walking paid three cents.
By the late 1920s, traffic often got stuck on the bridge. Cars had to wait for trains to pass. Because of this, a fifth bridge (the Veterans Memorial Bridge) was planned. The "Iron Bridge" carried passenger trains until 1954 and freight trains until 1958. It was taken apart for scrap metal between 1963 and 1964. Its stone piers, which are very old, can still be seen today next to the Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Images for kids
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Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge in 2014 (foreground)
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The Columbia–Wrightsville Bridge looking east from Wrightsville
