Willow Springs Bridge

[walturd]

There is a unique single lane steel grate bridge (about 50-70 feet in length) on Willow Springs road about 5 miles northeast of Fayetteville off of Highway 159. There is another single lane bridge (similar but not navigable) just west of there on an adjacent road. If you go onto the bridge, note the steel sign on the right with initials and date. That was put there by local residents in honor of an old gentleman who fished there for many years and had his ashes dumped into Willow Creek from the bridge. If you contine northeast on the road, it soon turns to gravel for a few miles (easily ridden by heavy touring bikes and cruisers as well) and will bring you out onto Highway 954. The bridge was originally a wooden bridge, but was set on fire by local teenagers, and a steel grate bridge was built in its place.

[Dub]

Walturd, you mean this one???

[walturd]

Yep--that's it----did you follow the road on to Hwy 954?

[Dub]

Yes I have, very good alternative road when heading to Fayetteville and you have time to kill.

[Manfred]

Would one of ya'll be kind enough to post a link to this bridge on a map or provide coordinates for it? I'm looking on the map along Willow Spring Road and not sure where this bridge is.

Thanks!

[walturd]

From the juction of Hwy 109 and 159 in Industry, go west on 159 about 6.3 miles---the road will be on your right. Approximate GPS coordinates are: N29 57.087 and W96 37.762----have fun.

[Manfred]

From the juction of Hwy 109 and 159 in Industry, go west on 159 about 6.3 miles---the road will be on your right. Approximate GPS coordinates are: N29 57.087 and W96 37.762----have fun.

Thanks -found the road. How far up Willow Springs Road from 159 is it to the bridge?

[walturd]

First, the Mapsource coordinates are: N29 57.109
W96 37.735.....the hard top road (again, to the right and it sneaks up on you but there is a sign) goes for about 250-300 yards, then you are at the foot of the bridge. It is hard top after you cross the bridge, but not far...it becomes a gravel road that even Goldwings and Ultraclassics can easily maneuver which eventually takes you to
Hwy 954. When you get on the bridge and look down at that water, you'll wish you had brought a fishing pole and some worms. If you walk along the side of the creek, watch for snakes.

[walturd]

I know that I edited the message to include more info, but I'll try again with a separate message...getting close to my beddy bye time. The Mapsource map coordinates for the road junction are N29 57.109 W96 37.735. The hard top road is about 200-250 yards to the foot of the bridge, and the hard top road on the other side of the bridge is short and turns to gravel that is manageable by Goldwings and Ultraclassics for a few miles to Hwy 954...a nice ride overall. About .7 mile further down Hwy 159, also to the right, is Coufal Road...down that road a few hundred yards you'll find another single lane bridge to the right of the main road---it was abandoned long ago and isn't fit to walk on. If you continue on down Coufal Road, you'll almost hear duelling banjoes playing.

Come back to this topic on this forum and let me know if you found the second bridge..it is hidden in the bushes and grass....then I'll tell you about the Brazos River Ferry Road...

[Manfred]

Many thanks. I will try to make time to check out the first bridge during the pie run later this month. As I will have several people following me, I wanted to know where it is before I head out.

[walturd]

Line them up and take pictures on the bridge. My old buddy (on his white Goldwing) was afraid of steel grate bridges until I convinced him to go up and let me get a picture...well, he finally did, and I put the camera on a fence and got a picture of both of us up there....he is no longer afraid of steel grate bridges---and we rode the gravel road and he now realizes that he CAN handle some gravel roads. His wife framed the picture.

[Manfred]

Thanks for the update, walturd. My group will have one HD and several lighter bikes - all strictly street. Last year, I inadvertently took a group (many of the same guys) down a 6 mile stretch of rough gravel. They may lynch me as we head down this one, but I'll do my best to convince them it's worth the risk :-)