This page features historical photos taken by Sammy Fowler in 1984 of Douthit Bridge while it was still in use. These photos were taken from the American Engineering Historical Archive. These photos present a rare opportunity to see what a bridge like this looks like still in use that has been closed for over 20 years.

Northbound approach to the bridge. Note the road is far from dug out here. In typical old-school Bartow County fashion, "3 Tons" is crudely spray painted on each side of the structure, covering what appears to be the plaque on the right side.

Note that there is a significant amount of warning on the structure...and the signs are also stenciled in very rural fashion. Signs include "Weight Limit 3 Tons" posted in two places, "Car Traffic Only", the clearance painted next to the hatching and something hanging which is not distinguishable. On the left side of the bridge appears to be a bridge plaque, which was nowhere to be found when the pictures below were taken.

This photo is looking from the field northeast that is where the current road is today. It looks like some grading had already started on the new bridge. As was noted on the main page, the bridge sat in basically a handle shape with the road making sweeping curves to reach it on both sides.

Detail of the underside of the structure.

Detail of the trusses from a 1984 angle.

Detail of the connecting pins and cables that weren't so rusted at the time. Rehabilitating this bridge would inevitably include replacing those cables.