Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Visiting Washington D.C. Bridges

By Gary Mullen


Whether or not you are an architectural appreciator or just enjoy serious historical structures, travelers won't want to miss the various amazing bridges in Wasington D.C.. Featuring interesting mythos that tell the history of the country, Washington D.C. Bridges tell a tale all of their own.

Arlington Memorial Bridge

Regularly said to be one of the most pretty bridges in Washington D.C, the Arlington Memorial Bridge is crammed with symbolism. Connecting the North area with the South, the Arlington Memorial Bridge crosses over the Potomac River, linking the Lincoln Memorial to Columbia Island. Rich in art and detail, the Arlington Memorial Bridge is known also for famous sculptures such as The Arts of War, which were sculpted by Leo Friedlander. Along the pylons on each pier, travelers can also see the work of sculptor Carl Paul Jennewein, which are massive circulars discs adorned with eagles and faces.

Francis Scott Key Bridge

Erected in 1923, the Francis Scott Key Bridge was created by the Army Corps of Engineers. This concrete built structure provides straightforward commuting between Washington D.C., Arlington County and Virginia. The FSK is the oldest bridge that crosses over the Potomac River. Architects Max Tyler and Nathan Wyeth exploited a classical revival arch design when creating the plans for this bridge.

John Philip Sousa Bridge

Named after John Philip Sousa, the famous composer of many American marches, the John Philip Sousa Bridge carries Pennsylvania Avenue over the Anacostia River. The John Philip Sousa bridge was opened in 1940 using the same masonry piers that were utilized for the previous bridge that stood in its place.

Chain Bridge

Carrying nearly 22,000 vehicles a day the Chain Bridge crosses over the Potomac River in Little Falls area of Washington, D.C. This girder designed bridge was assembled in 1939 from steel. The Chain Bridge marks the site where the Union Army gained their access to the countryside encampments inside Fairfax County. The bridge features a big crossbeam structure which seems just like a pergola or long garden arbor. The existing bridge is the second structure to stand in place as the 1st Chain Bridge was originally opened in 1793. Chain linked trusses were added in 1810 to the initial bridge structure, giving the structure its popular name. All together there were a grand total of eight different version of this bridge in the location on which it now sits.

14th Street Bridge

Composed of five bridges that all cross over the Potomac River, the 14th Street Bridge connects Arlington, VA with Washington, D.C. This structure carries many different names composed from , Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge, Charles R. Fenwick Bridge, Rochambeau Bridge, the Long Bridge, and the George Mason Memorial Bridge. Of all the Washington D.C. Bridges, the Chain Bridge carries the most mournful tales. This bridge is the site where the Air Florida Flight 90 airplane crash took place on in 1982. Today repairs continue to be completed on this bridge to mend damage caused during that crisis.




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