Houston bridges span not only waterways and freeways, they also connect the city's past and present. From the littler bridges built to aid commerce and connect communities in the centre of the city, to the electrifying structures created in the port district, bridges in Houston reflect the unique culture of the town. Below you will find a list with the top bridges in Houston for you to visit and explore.
The Sidney Sherman Bridge
Also known as the Loop 610 Ship Channel Bridge, the Sidney Sherman Bridge spans the Houston Ship Channel southeast of downtown. It was named for a colonel in the Republic of Texas Military, Sidney Sherman, a leading advocate for improvements to the Houston Ship Channel. The strutted girder bridge, constructed of steel and concrete, opened on March 2, 1973. The key span of the bridge is 600 feet long and 10 lanes wide. Its traffic volume as of 2001 averaged 100 twenty two thousand cars each day. Local Houston folks value this bridge for its view of the Houston Ship Channel, especially after dark when the twinkling lights of the commercial section of the town may be seen in the distance.
Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge
Formerly called the Jesse H. Jones Memorial Bridge, this bridge crosses the Houston Ship Channel at Beltway 8 to the east of downtown Houston. The cantilevered concrete box girder bridge opened in 1982 with a main span length of seven 150 feet. Though its design might seem modest and minimalist compared with other major Houston bridges, the Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge is amongst the most highly travelled. Its 4 traffic lanes saw more than twenty-eight thousand automobiles per day in 2002.
San Jacinto Street Bridge
This open spandrel arch bridge was built in 1914 to span Buffalo Bayou in the center of downtown Houston. It was rehabilitated in 1995. With a length of 300 and twenty five feet, the San Jacinto Street Bridge is part of the one-way, northward bound road; southerly bound traffic must use the Fannin Street Bridge. The open spandrel arch is a less common bridge design.
Fred Hartman Bridge
The Fred Hartman Bridge connects the communities of LaPorte and Baytown. Outside Houston correct, though still within the Houston urban area, this steel, cable-stayed bridge is eight traffic lanes wide. It was built in 1995. As of 2008, its typical daily traffic surpassed thirty thousand vehicles a day. Due to the shape of its towers, this bridge makes an incredible view of the Houston Ship Channel.
McKee Street Bridge
Found in Houston's Warehouse District, the design of McKee Street Bridge shows equal parts history and caprice. The bridge is on the National Significant Register. Engineer James Gordon McKenzie built the girder bridge in 1932. Made of bolstered concrete, the girders continue their curves above the highway, making for a surprising but pleasing shape. In an urban reclamation project, an artist named Kirk Farris painted the McKee Street Bridge using bright reds and blues, adding multiple, bulbous light fittings that add to its fantastic appearance.
The Sidney Sherman Bridge
Also known as the Loop 610 Ship Channel Bridge, the Sidney Sherman Bridge spans the Houston Ship Channel southeast of downtown. It was named for a colonel in the Republic of Texas Military, Sidney Sherman, a leading advocate for improvements to the Houston Ship Channel. The strutted girder bridge, constructed of steel and concrete, opened on March 2, 1973. The key span of the bridge is 600 feet long and 10 lanes wide. Its traffic volume as of 2001 averaged 100 twenty two thousand cars each day. Local Houston folks value this bridge for its view of the Houston Ship Channel, especially after dark when the twinkling lights of the commercial section of the town may be seen in the distance.
Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge
Formerly called the Jesse H. Jones Memorial Bridge, this bridge crosses the Houston Ship Channel at Beltway 8 to the east of downtown Houston. The cantilevered concrete box girder bridge opened in 1982 with a main span length of seven 150 feet. Though its design might seem modest and minimalist compared with other major Houston bridges, the Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge is amongst the most highly travelled. Its 4 traffic lanes saw more than twenty-eight thousand automobiles per day in 2002.
San Jacinto Street Bridge
This open spandrel arch bridge was built in 1914 to span Buffalo Bayou in the center of downtown Houston. It was rehabilitated in 1995. With a length of 300 and twenty five feet, the San Jacinto Street Bridge is part of the one-way, northward bound road; southerly bound traffic must use the Fannin Street Bridge. The open spandrel arch is a less common bridge design.
Fred Hartman Bridge
The Fred Hartman Bridge connects the communities of LaPorte and Baytown. Outside Houston correct, though still within the Houston urban area, this steel, cable-stayed bridge is eight traffic lanes wide. It was built in 1995. As of 2008, its typical daily traffic surpassed thirty thousand vehicles a day. Due to the shape of its towers, this bridge makes an incredible view of the Houston Ship Channel.
McKee Street Bridge
Found in Houston's Warehouse District, the design of McKee Street Bridge shows equal parts history and caprice. The bridge is on the National Significant Register. Engineer James Gordon McKenzie built the girder bridge in 1932. Made of bolstered concrete, the girders continue their curves above the highway, making for a surprising but pleasing shape. In an urban reclamation project, an artist named Kirk Farris painted the McKee Street Bridge using bright reds and blues, adding multiple, bulbous light fittings that add to its fantastic appearance.
About the Author:
Shawn Shawshank has been fascinated by Houston landmarks for several years. He has written op-eds and editorial pieces for many online publications. For more information about Houston bridges feel free to visit his site.
No comments:
Post a Comment