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Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| Walnut Street Bridge | Walnut Street over Tennessee River | Chattanooga: Hamilton County, Tennessee | Metal Pinned Pennsylvania Through Truss, Stationary | 1891 By: Smith Bridge Company of Toledo, Ohio |
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Technical Facts |
| Structure Length | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 150 Feet (45.7 Meters) | 6 Spans: 3 at 210 Feet (64 Meters) with 10 panels, 3 at 320 Feet (97.5 Meters) with 16 panels | Metal Stringer, 780 Feet (237.7 Meters) Total Length |
Thanks to Dave Michaels for visiting and photographing this bridge.
This bridge is a Pennsylvania through truss with pinned connections. The top chord and end posts are organized into the five parts, making it technologically similar to a Camelback truss as opposed to a Parker truss. HABS HAER has an extensive set of data sheets that detail the rich history of this structure.
As an overview, this bridge is one of the most significant bridges in the United States, and thankfully it has been restored for pedestrian use. Unlike the rest of Tennessee, who has publiclly declared that it will be demolishing nearly all of its truss bridges, Chattanooga has made the decision that benefits everybody, from historians, bridge enthusiasts, to people who simply cross the bridge for pleasure or purpose. The bridge is a landmark and an attraction for the city, and will likely help bring further prosperity and tourism to the city. The restoration was well done, most notably, leaving historically correct railings on the bridge, is a rare but welcome asset to the restored bridge. There have been other insensitive modifications to the structure, but these may predate the recent restoration. Most blatant is the welding of i-beams on top of the portal bracing, which is quite detrimental to the proper appearance of the bridge.
The bridge was completed in 1891 and as a large landmark structure, this is likely the largest remaining monument to the skill and capabilities of the Smith Bridge Company, a prolific late 19th century bridge company. As a Pennsylvania truss, it utilizes one of the most visually impressive, intricate truss configurations. The approach system at the northern end of the bridge, supported by complex wrought iron bents, is not to be overlooked either, nor are the very tall stone piers. All of this is topped off with an ornate portal bracing, which also features a large plaque made up of smaller Smith Bridge Company style plaques that resemble individual plaques found on smaller through truss bridges built by the company.
A special thanks to Dave Michaels for visiting this bridge and providing his numerous and magnificent photos to Historic Bridges of Michigan and Elsewhere. As a restored structure, in an area with few historic bridges, visiting the bridge has been a low priority for the website. Yet on the other hand, the Walnut Street Bridge is an essential bridge to have featured on the website. Thanks, Dave for helping out! Be sure to explore the photo gallery, where there are many full/wallpaper sized images and structural details as well.
