HAYWOOD COUNTY BRIDGES - CHAMBERS FARM LANE

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Scheduled to be replaced later in 2007, the bridge over West Fork Pigeon River on Chambers Farm Lane (SR 1112) is the oldest in North Carolina still open to traffic. This fact was highlighted on a now out-of-print map and travel guide to North Carolina known as "The Road of North Carolina".

The Chambers Farm Lane bridge was built in 1891 and is a pin-connected Pratt truss bridge with a lightweight design and single span. Overhead on each side of the bridge is a plaque with the date of construction, though the plaques have different messages on each side. Right now, these plaques are not legible due to chipping paint. The railing on the bridge is not authentic, but is the more recent wooden railing used on secondary road bridges in the state. The bridge is located south of Waynesville.

Click on any of the thumbnail images below to view more photos and details of each bridge. All photos taken May 19, 2007.

NC 1112: state's oldest bridge still in use View looking east with closer detail of the structure.
Chambers Farm Lane bridge Looking west with more of a side view. Note the bridge is very sturdy for its age with a six ton weight limit: typically the maximum allowed weight limit for lightweight pin-connected truss bridges of the era.
Chambers Farm Lane bridge Here is a close-up view of the pin connections, ornate approaches and other details looking east.
Chambers Farm Lane bridge Again looking east, this view captures slightly more of the bridge than the first photo.
Chambers Farm Lane bridge Here is a side-angle view looking east with a view of the river. The river is calm in this area meaning this location was probably chosen because it was less likely to be washed out in a major flood.
Chambers Farm Lane bridge The plaque here looking east is very difficult to read, but it reads "Haywood County Commissioners" followed by the names E.H. Howell, G.B. Roberts and J.M. Gwynn.
Chambers Farm Lane bridge The plaque here is looking west, and is less difficult to read. It says "Built 1891 by Dean & Westbrook Engineers New York".
Chambers Farm Lane bridge One last angle for enthusiasts showing the street name and secondary route number both on the street sign and on the block behind the stop sign.

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