1st Avenue North Viaduct: Difference between revisions
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The '''1st Avenue North Viaduct''' is a steel-span viaduct | [[Image:Beneath the 1st Avenue North Viaduct.jpg|right|thumb|450px|Beneath the viaduct at the Sloss Furnaces entrance.]] | ||
The '''1st Avenue North Viaduct''' is a steel-span viaduct carrying [[1st Avenue North]] from [[Carraway Boulevard]] (formerly 26th Street) to [[34th Street North|34th Street]], adjacent to [[Sloss Furnaces]] just to the east of downtown [[Birmingham]]. The bridge was designed and built by [[W. C. Howton Contracting]], and completed in the Autumn of [[1950]]. The 1st Avenue Viaduct currently carries four lanes of traffic. | |||
The first "permanent" viaduct on 1st Avenue (replacing earlier wooden structures) was the 2,632-foot long by 60-foot wide '''Weatherly Viaduct''', completed in [[1915]] due to the efforts of [[Birmingham City Commission]]er [[James Weatherly]]. That span bridged the active railroad tracks near [[Sloss Furnaces]] and the [[Birmingham Terminal Station]]. Construction began on [[July 1]], [[1914]]. 13,550 cubic yards of concrete were used to construct the 31.5-foot-tall structure which carried two streetcar tracks on its 40-foot roadway and was flanked by two 10-foot-wide | ==Weatherly Viaduct== | ||
The first "permanent" viaduct on 1st Avenue (replacing earlier wooden structures) was the 2,632-foot long by 60-foot wide '''Weatherly Viaduct''', completed in [[1915]] due to the efforts of [[Birmingham City Commission]]er [[James Weatherly]]. That span bridged the active railroad tracks near [[Sloss Furnaces]] and the [[Birmingham Terminal Station]]. | |||
Construction began on [[July 1]], [[1914]]. 13,550 cubic yards of concrete were used to construct the 2,632-foot long by 31.5-foot-tall structure which carried two streetcar tracks on its 40-foot roadway and was flanked by two 10-foot-wide sidewalks. | |||
Though budgeted at $280,000, the actual cost for construction was $220,000, which was split among the [[Louisville & Nashville Railroad]], the [[Southern Railway]], the [[Alabama Great Southern Railroad]], the [[Sloss-Sheffield Company]], [[Birmingham Railway, Light & Power]], and the City of [[Birmingham]] (which footed 1/4th of the bill). | |||
The Weatherly Viaduct was christened with a bottle of [[Avondale Spring]] water on [[August 5]], [[1915]]. [[John Sibley]] served as master of ceremonies and speeches were given by [[John Hornady]], [[James J. Smith]], [[J. H. P. DeWindt]] and James Weatherly. | |||
==Present viaduct== | |||
By the late 1940s the Weatherly Viaduct was in poor repair. The city forged an agreement with the [[Alabama Highway Department]] and the Federal Bureau of Roads to share the $2,500,000 cost of a replacement. Mayor [[Jimmy Morgan]] struck a hammer against the old structure on [[March 7]], [[1949]] to mark the start of demolition. | |||
The present 83-foot wide, 4-lane reinforced concrete viaduct from [[25th Street North|25th]] to [[35th Street North]] was dedicated on [[September 2]], [[1950]]. | |||
At the time the structure was rebuilt, the [[Birmingham Electric Company]] was carrying 26,000 passenger over it each day. The detour during construction added about 10 minutes to the trip. | At the time the structure was rebuilt, the [[Birmingham Electric Company]] was carrying 26,000 passenger over it each day. The detour during construction added about 10 minutes to the trip. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* "Facts About Birmingham's New Viaduct" (October 1915) ''The Birmingham Magazine''. | * "Facts About Birmingham's New Viaduct" (October 1915) ''The Birmingham Magazine''. | ||
* "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/Viaduct(3-50).jpg From Where I Stand]" (March 1950) {{BN}} - via [[Birmingham Rewound]] | |||
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119755742/birminghams-first-viaduct-erected-65/ Birmingham's first 'viaduct' erected 65 years ago]" (August 31, 1950) {{BN}}, p. 20 | |||
* Baker, Jerry (February 21, 2001) "Contractor built bridge to last." {{BN}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{Locate | lat=33.521344 | lon=-86.791094 | zoom=16 }} | |||
* [http://www.bhamrails.info/Downtown_Trains/Grade_Separation/Grade_Separation_01.htm Grade Separation] at [[Birmingham Rails]]. | * [http://www.bhamrails.info/Downtown_Trains/Grade_Separation/Grade_Separation_01.htm Grade Separation] at [[Birmingham Rails]]. | ||
* [https://digital.archives.alabama.gov/digital/collection/amg/id/139435/rec/297 1939 aerial photograph] in the Alabama Media Group Collection at the [[Alabama Department of Archives and History]] | |||
[[Category:Bridges]] | [[Category:Bridges]] | ||
[[Category:W.C. Howton bridges]] | [[Category:W.C. Howton bridges]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1915 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:1950 buildings]] | [[Category:1950 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:1st Avenue North|First Avenue North Viaduct]] | [[Category:1st Avenue North|First Avenue North Viaduct]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:11, 8 November 2023
The 1st Avenue North Viaduct is a steel-span viaduct carrying 1st Avenue North from Carraway Boulevard (formerly 26th Street) to 34th Street, adjacent to Sloss Furnaces just to the east of downtown Birmingham. The bridge was designed and built by W. C. Howton Contracting, and completed in the Autumn of 1950. The 1st Avenue Viaduct currently carries four lanes of traffic.
Weatherly Viaduct
The first "permanent" viaduct on 1st Avenue (replacing earlier wooden structures) was the 2,632-foot long by 60-foot wide Weatherly Viaduct, completed in 1915 due to the efforts of Birmingham City Commissioner James Weatherly. That span bridged the active railroad tracks near Sloss Furnaces and the Birmingham Terminal Station.
Construction began on July 1, 1914. 13,550 cubic yards of concrete were used to construct the 2,632-foot long by 31.5-foot-tall structure which carried two streetcar tracks on its 40-foot roadway and was flanked by two 10-foot-wide sidewalks.
Though budgeted at $280,000, the actual cost for construction was $220,000, which was split among the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, the Southern Railway, the Alabama Great Southern Railroad, the Sloss-Sheffield Company, Birmingham Railway, Light & Power, and the City of Birmingham (which footed 1/4th of the bill).
The Weatherly Viaduct was christened with a bottle of Avondale Spring water on August 5, 1915. John Sibley served as master of ceremonies and speeches were given by John Hornady, James J. Smith, J. H. P. DeWindt and James Weatherly.
Present viaduct
By the late 1940s the Weatherly Viaduct was in poor repair. The city forged an agreement with the Alabama Highway Department and the Federal Bureau of Roads to share the $2,500,000 cost of a replacement. Mayor Jimmy Morgan struck a hammer against the old structure on March 7, 1949 to mark the start of demolition.
The present 83-foot wide, 4-lane reinforced concrete viaduct from 25th to 35th Street North was dedicated on September 2, 1950.
At the time the structure was rebuilt, the Birmingham Electric Company was carrying 26,000 passenger over it each day. The detour during construction added about 10 minutes to the trip.
References
- "Facts About Birmingham's New Viaduct" (October 1915) The Birmingham Magazine.
- "From Where I Stand" (March 1950) The Birmingham News - via Birmingham Rewound
- "Birmingham's first 'viaduct' erected 65 years ago" (August 31, 1950) The Birmingham News, p. 20
- Baker, Jerry (February 21, 2001) "Contractor built bridge to last." The Birmingham News
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External links
- Grade Separation at Birmingham Rails.
- 1939 aerial photograph in the Alabama Media Group Collection at the Alabama Department of Archives and History