These days, conservation is a buzzword in all political circles, while historical preservation falls more and more by the wayside. The area where historical preservation has been the worst is with our roads, and this is made worse by the liability culture we have that has resulted in hideously ugly concrete structures that serve only functionally and for no other purpose. They are blighting our landscape and taking the joys out of seeing America. As a friend told me, "they want the world to look like it was all built in 1986". Unfortunately, he seems to be right as our beautiful historic bridge structures are demolished, abandoned and forgotten due to the issues of low weight limits, age and higher maintenance costs. Almost always, these are replaced with structures designed for nothing but low maintenance and a culture that is paranoid about designing everything not only just to avert lawsuits from bad drivers, but also to build things things as quickly and cheaply as possible with little to no thought about the long-term psychological effects of American homogenization.

What if, however, we took a second look at this? Does anyone else not feel more of a sense of place and community pride with an old bridge structure.

Some whole communities have built themselves around a covered bridge, the ornate concrete arch bridge downtown or some other historic bridge structure. What I am proposing here is a highly unique plan that can combine historic preservation with actual need, beautifying Georgia and giving everyone a better sense of place and community.

THE PLAN

The plan is this: while most of our historic bridges are long gone, there are quite a few steel truss bridges and a scant few covered bridges still around. These are mostly abandoned in the past decades, but rarely are still in use awaiting the next DOT contract to demolish them, because as they see it they can no longer able to function in their intended purpose when in reality the lack of maintenance is why they are in the shape they are in. Meanwhile, counties are facing tighter and tighter budgets to replace aging bridges of all types as well as faltering box culverts, which are recently becoming viewed more as an environmental issue in stream quality as well as flood control.

The idea here is this: when a county or city is faced with replacing an aging bridge or culvert on a local street or road that is low volume and not designated as a collector or arterial route, why not move part or all of one of these historic bridge structures to one of these roads, reassemble it, restore the structure and reopen it to vehicle traffic? It could bring a great sense of pride to the community, it would be totally authentic and the cost of relocation and preservation would be footed by the by the Federal government if the bridge can be placed on the National Historic Register. This program could also be used to beautify an area by replacing a dull, unsightly concrete bridge or culvert with an old truss bridge or covered bridge, which is a tool that could bring tourism to an area.

In addition, considering the high cost of bridge replacements, are two-lane expensive concrete bridges really needed on small local roads? As it is, the new bridges being built on county roads currently in Georgia are basically unsightly boxy structures with donated I-beams and fortress-like concrete rails that while capable of holding a tractor trailer are a total eyesore. They add nothing to the community, and when the road is not a truck route or heavily developing area, it is essentially overbuilding on small local roads. While height and weight issues are important on collector and arterial routes, are they really important on a gravel or narrow country lane with low traffic counts? Does every road need to be built to state highway standards?

Think of the cost issues we already have from overbuilding our roads. Some states have actually had to remove pavement from roads due to lack of funding to maintain little used or heavily damaged roads. And just on quality of life issues alone, driving is simply much more exciting when the two lane road you are on suddenly converges on a small, narrow one-lane wooden bridge with some unique design like an overhead cover or a truss, all over a creek or river where you can actually see the stream below.

DESIGN IS KEY

What needs to be very important in this program is that these bridges be authentic in design in every way. This means that the old bridges must have all-authentic design elements and any newly constructed trusses deck of the bridges should be made of wooden planks with track boards, all structural elements replaced should be identical to the original structure and even bridge railings should be completely authentic or resemble the original railings (this means no modern guardrails).

On new bridges, designs should be based on classic designs even if the bridge will require a lower weight limit. This means that classic pin-connected pratt trusses should be built, bridges should be one-lane, not two-lane structures, decks should be wood, railings should be sturdy but resemble the older thinner railings and pilings should even be designed to match those used in the late 1800's-early 1900's period. In all, attention to detail is important on new structures and attention to maintaining details on older structures is equally important. Covered bridges should also have historical clearances, wooden decks, and any modern design elements should be completely hidden from view. Considering the safety issues, people should be considered capable of driving across these bridges. They have drivers licenses, and as long as the bridge is structural sound this should be considered as a statewide plan for local roadways.

AN EXAMPLE

An example where this would be useful include, for example, relocating the long unused Ladd Bridge in Bartow County to perhaps replace the aging structure on Lower Dowda Mill Road in Cherokee County.

The bridge would be restored on site and likely the age of the bridge would make it eligible for the funding to restore it. Work to prepare the site for the bridge would be far less than building an all new bridge, and a long unused bridge could become a local landmark that actually serves vehicle traffic in another location. If the bridge was designed authentically with a wooden deck, low-profile railing and authentic-looking piers, it would be among one of the most visually appealing structures that would retain the authenticity of its past, the rural design elements of its predecessor and be historically sound but also safe.

Preserving old bridges is something desperately needed in America as we are losing touch with our history and our sense of community because of the sameness that is becoming so prevalent. Consider that efforts are sometimes made to do this. Shallowford Bridge in Fannin County was recently fully rehabilitated with a new wooden deck, new paint and the original metal railings repaired with new fittings.

Further away, the Fayette Station Bridge in New River Gorge in West Virginia was also fully overhauled in 1997, but its restoration was nearly identical to its former self.

CONCLUSION

People across the country are becoming more aware of the value of these bridges. In 2006, Carroll County brought into question Georgia D.O.T's plan to replace the bridge on Clem-Lowell Road over Whooping Creek, a one-lane pony truss structure that has been a jewel of the community and is situated over a scenic part of the creek. People took note that the bridge would be replaced with an ugly concrete bridge and that this bridge was the very last of its kind in the community. Perhaps this can save or at least provide a future for other structures across the state such as the soon-to-be-extinct Hardin Bridge.