Talbot Avenue bridge facts for kids
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The Talbot Avenue bridge was a historic bridge in Montgomery County, Maryland. It was a single-lane metal bridge that connected the community of Lyttonsville with downtown Silver Spring. The bridge was first built in 1918. A new top part (deck) was added in 1986. It crossed over the CSX railroad tracks.
The Talbot Avenue bridge closed in June 2019 and was taken down later that year. A new, wider two-lane bridge is now being built to replace it. This new bridge will help extend the Capital Crescent Trail to Silver Spring.
This old bridge was important because Lyttonsville was a community started in 1853 by a free Black worker. The bridge helped connect Lyttonsville to downtown Silver Spring. It was a path to areas where Black residents could work, even if they were not allowed to live there at the time.
What Was the Talbot Avenue Bridge Like?
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The Talbot Avenue bridge was about 106 feet long. It was 14.5 feet wide where cars drove, and 18 feet wide from its outer edges. The main part of the bridge had strong metal beams called plate girders in the middle. The ends had smaller rolled girders. The bridge deck was made of wood planks, and it had a wooden railing.
In 1993, an inspection report said the bridge was in fair to poor shape. It had cracks, rust, and parts of the metal were missing. The wood and steel parts of the bridge were getting old and damaged. This made it hard to keep the bridge safe. Because of safety concerns, the bridge was closed to all vehicles in May 2017.
Why Was the Bridge Taken Down?
In 2016, there were plans to build a new light rail train line called the Purple Line. The path for the Purple Line went right where the Talbot Avenue bridge stood. Because of this, the old bridge had to be removed to make way for the new train line.
