A Survey and Photographic Inventory of Metal Truss Bridges in Virginia, 1865-1932: IX: The Bristol Construction District

About the report:

In 1974 the Research Council initiated a statewide survey of metal truss bridges to identify any with historic significance. This pioneering effort was financed with state research funds as it was intended to aid the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation in meeting its obligations mandated by various requirements of the environmental review process. As the work in Virginia proceeded, interest in the historic significance of bridges developed nationwide and warranted funding of the research under Highway Planning and Research funds administered by the Federal Highway Administration. A working plan was approved to develop criteria for the preservation or adaptive use of bridges and this work included surveys of metal truss bridges in the Lynchburg and Bristol districts and a statewide survey of concrete and masonry bridges. At that time surveys of metal truss bridges in the Staunton, Culpeper, Richmond, and Fredericksburg construction districts had been completed. The surveys of metal truss bridges for the remaining two districts, Salem and Suffolk, were funded with state research funds. An interim report entitled "Criteria For Preservation and Adaptive Use of Historic Highway Structures A Trial Rating System for Truss Bridges" was issued in January 1978. This present report presents the results of the survey of the metal trusses in the Bristol District. The issuance of this report, which completes the statewide effort on metal truss bridges, has been delayed because of the resignation of the research analyst originally assigned to the project.

Authors