Bridges We Should See

Has anyone else noticed how we are attracted to large bridges? Just think about those things that you remember from traveling. I cannot name all of the bridges that I have viewed or crossed in traveling, mostly around the US. I have seen some of the most famous bridges and some that have not attracted the attention that they should be given. I will just give my feelings about a few that most people know and I have pictures of a couple of them.
Let us start with the big number on the west coast. The Golden Gate Bridge is the most named bridge on this coast. It is majestic from a distance but you should walk out on the bridge to understand the size and see the view that you have from the deck. If you really want to “feel” the giant nature of a bridge go under it and look up. In San Francisco you can visit Fort Point which is a civil war era fort that is located under the approach to the bridge. You can really see the bridge from the top of the fort and experience the bridge. When you see that this area is splattered with paint from the work they do you, wonder if you should actually be there. It gives you a great reason to visit the city, if you really need another one besides eating sourdough French bread.

Then you can go back in history and see what could be built with brick and stone as a basis of the giant piers. The Brooklyn Bridge was opened in 1883 and connects Manhattan and Brooklyn over the East River. It is a classic looking structure but it has many of the features you would want to see on a modern bridge. They have a wide promenade for pedestrians and the subway also uses the bridge. If you have been to the Fulton Fish Market or South Street Seaport you have had a dramatic view of the bridge going over you. That this structure still exists is a monument to the designer and the people who built it.

You do not have to go that far from Los Angeles to find a bridge that combines classic architecture and modern function. The Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena is classic in its design and it high level of functionality are what made it so important that it was updated and saved when some said that it was no longer needed. It was opened in 1913 and then retrofitted and reopened in 1993. Known as “Suicide Bridge” it was modernized with high fences so that it would be less likely that it would be the destination for people who are inclined to end their lives.
These are only three of the bridges that I could discuss and in the future I will add to this list but think about it. It seems that all of tall bridges seem to have many of the same characteristics. They have a classic look, they are still not just needed but key parts of our transportation infrastructure, and they look good. Unfortunately they are also the destination of people who want to commit suicide.
A forth bridge in now on my list and that is the bridge over Black Canyon in the area in front of Hoover Dam. I think it will be on the list of most visited bridges for a long time. My next visit to Las Vegas will include a walk across this bridge to see it and the view that it provides of the dam.