Fernbridge (bridge) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fernbridge |
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A view of the west side of Fernbridge from the south bank of the Eel River
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| Coordinates | 40°36′51″N 124°12′8″W / 40.61417°N 124.20222°W |
| Carries |  SR 211 |
| Crosses | Eel River |
| Locale | Fernbridge, California |
| Maintained by | California Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Material | Concrete |
| Total length | 1,320 ft (402.3 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | John B. Leonard |
| Construction begin | 1910 |
| Opened | November 8, 1911 |
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Fernbridge
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.6 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000566 |
| Added to NRHP | April 2, 1987 |
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Fernbridge is a very old and strong bridge in California. It is 1,320-foot-long (402.3 m) and made of concrete. The bridge opened in 1911. It crosses the Eel River near the town of Fernbridge, California.
This bridge was designed by an American engineer named John B. Leonard. It was built where people used to cross the river by ferry. Fernbridge is the very last bridge on the Eel River before it flows into the Pacific Ocean. It is also a key part of California State Route 211, which leads to Ferndale, California. When it was first built, people called it the "Queen of Bridges." It is still one of the longest working concrete bridges in the world!
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Building the "Queen of Bridges"
For 17 years, people from Ferndale and the Eel River valley asked for a bridge. Finally, in 1910, the leaders of Humboldt County agreed to start building it. Work began on March 20, 1910.
Builders used a special type of concrete called reinforced concrete. This material was chosen because studies after the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake showed it could stand up to earthquakes. The bridge cost about $245,967 in 1910. It also used a lot of local redwood wood for its frame.
The bridge was finished and opened on November 8, 1911. At first, it had long wooden ramps leading up to it. These wooden parts were later replaced with concrete ramps in 1920. The main concrete part of the bridge is 1,451 feet (442 m) long. It has a 24-foot (7.3 m) wide road and seven large arches, each 180-foot (55 m) long.
Surviving the Floods
Fernbridge is famous for surviving many big floods. It stood strong during floods in 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1937, 1953, 1955, 1964, and 1986.
During the Christmas Week flood of 1955, the water at Fernbridge was 27.7 feet (8.4 m) deep. The flood washed away part of the bridge's south end. When they fixed it, they made the bridge about 20 feet (6.1 m) shorter.
Nine years later, in the Christmas flood of 1964, the Eel River flooded even worse. Almost every other bridge on the river was badly damaged. But Fernbridge held strong! The water level reached 29.5 feet (9.0 m) on December 23. The river was so powerful that it carried away thousands of redwood logs, homes, and barns. Even with all that force, Fernbridge survived.
A Historic Landmark
On September 24, 1976, a group called the American Society of Civil Engineers recognized Fernbridge as an important historic landmark. They placed a special plaque on the bridge.
In 1987, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) thought about replacing Fernbridge. They wanted a newer bridge. But the people of Ferndale loved their historic bridge. They worked hard to keep it. Because of their efforts, Fernbridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1987. This means it is a special place that should be protected.
Even though the Eel River often floods the bridge's lower parts, Fernbridge has always proven its strength.
Recent Times and Celebrations
In 1995, Fernbridge was used in the movie Outbreak. In the movie, army tanks and helicopters crossed the bridge.
In 2008, Caltrans started to fix up the railings of Fernbridge. They wanted them to look like they did when the bridge was new. Other small improvements were made in 2008 and 2009. But the bridge still looks mostly the same as it always has.
On August 7, 2011, people celebrated the bridge's 100th birthday! The bridge was closed to cars for the day. People had a special run across the bridge, just like they did on its opening day in 1911. A parade of old cars and important local people also crossed it. A local resident even lit up Fernbridge at night for the celebration.
Today, the United States Geological Survey has a live webcam at Fernbridge. You can watch the river conditions there!
