Bluff Dale Suspension Bridge

[FWRex]

I finally got the chance to look around Bluff Dale and find this bridge. According to this site, ( http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2004-03-05/cols_daytrips.html ), it's one of at least five suspension bridges left in Texas and has to be the smallest. Pretty neat feeling, though, walking out into the middle of the bridge and feeling it swaying in the breeze. Anyway, it's on CR 149, north of Hwy 377 in Bluff Dale. Worth a side trip if you're passing through.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8558/bdb18kh.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7140/img09646tn.jpg

Big Pic 1 (http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/5185/bdb25zk.jpg) / Big Pic 2 (http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/1296/bdb38cj.jpg)

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/936/bdb43if.jpg

[ColGoodnight]

Some folks (http://en.structurae.de/structures/stype/index.cfm?ID=1) don't categorize a cable stay bridge like the Bluffdale as a suspension bridge, although obviously the deck is suspended. Anyway, the 1891 Bluffdale is by far the oldest cable stay bridge in the United States. Other cable stays in Texas include the massive Fred Hartman (a fan cable stay like the old Bluffdale) over the ship channel and the Veterans' Memorial in Bridge City (a harp cable stay).

Scoot safe,
Tom

PS - Active traditional suspension bridges in Texas include the 1869 Waco, 1891 Beveridge, 1928 Roma and 1938 Regency.

PPS - If you ride to Bluffdale, grab a meal at "Let's Eat"!

PPPS - Be sure to post your bike/bridge pic in the "Texas' Top Twenty Tressles" thread!