Above: View of the bridge prior to demolition. Photo Credit: Dave Michaels
Above: The fog of war, a bridge about to die. Photo Credit: Bill McConkey
| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| TN-58 Bridge | TN-58 Over Hiwassee River (Chickamauga Lake) | Rural: Meigs County, Tennessee | Metal Riveted Modified Parker Truss, Stationary | 1929 By: Unknown |
| Technical Facts |
| Structure Length | Main Span Length | Roadway Width | Vertical Clearance | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 1067.9 Feet (325.5 Meters) | 220.1 Feet (67.1 Meters) | 20 Feet (6.1 Meters) | 15.4 Feet (4.7 Meters) | 3 | 14 Concrete T-Beam |
Thanks to Dave Michaels for visiting and photographing this historic bridge.
This beautiful bridge was historically significant for its large size, with a total length of 1067 feet, including an impressive concrete t-beam approach system. The main span was of decent size also, at 220 feet. Perhaps the most important aspect of this bridge however was its unusual design. Although it appeared to have been a standard plan in Tennessee, as evidenced by the similar US-41 Bridge, also potentially doomed, it was extremely unusual today both nationally and within the state. The bridge was a modification of the Parker truss, whose two centermost panels utilize a truss arrangement that was like that found on a K-truss configuration. The K-truss is a highly uncommon truss configuration, mostly found in Oklahoma and is itself a noteworthy find. This unusual blend of the two configurations was both and unusual and noteworthy. In addition, the unique design of the truss created a beautiful aesthetic design, in which a clear diamond shape was visible when the bridge's elevation was viewed from a distance.
Despite having an embarrassingly low number of remaining truss bridges, Tennessee still decided to demolish this beautiful historic bridge. Indeed, perhaps no other state has offered less of a commitment to the historic bridge community. One TNDOT official said they didn't expect than any metal truss bridges would remain in the state in the years down the road, with the exception of the Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga. Such a statement can mean only one thing: Tennessee intends to demolish every single highway truss bridge remaining in the state! This is an alarming statement, and highlights the need for the U.S. Congress to reinforce its declaration that preserving historic bridges is in the national interest, and expand existing limited preservation laws, that currently place little pressure on states like Tennessee to preserve their historic truss bridges.
