|
Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
| Holt Line Bridge | Truss | Holt Line | Lambton County, ON | Rural | Sydenham River (North Branch) |
This visually appealing bridge is a beautiful example of the uncommon and complex Pennsylvania truss configuration, also occasionally referred to as the Petit truss configuration. There is v-lacing under the top chord, on the sway bracing, and on the members composing the portal bracing. In these terms the bridge is pretty simple looking in appearance, but it more than makes up for that with its complex truss configuration. The bridge is a seven panel structure, and it sits on concrete abutments. The deck is also concrete. Original pole railings are present on the bridge.
A visit to Ontario from my state of Michigan is always an exciting one. Just over a mere four miles from where I got off of the Marine City-Sombra Ferry across the St. Clair River is a bridge design that is unlike anything found in Michigan. Actually, seeing a truss bridge with paint on it and open to traffic alone is quite unlike Michigan! This bridge is located just south of the McKeough Floodway Dam, which presents another thing that I enjoy about getting over to Ontario. Unlike the United States which locks things up, puts up cameras and no trespassing signs, and fences all over everything, here in Canada I made the unexpected discovery that this dam was not fenced off! Rather, they turned it into a park, allowing it to be functional and also serve another purpose. I was so excited to be able to get on this dam, because I got excellent side views. For some reason I have had bad luck getting good side views of truss bridges with the Pennsylvania configuration in the past. By the way, the dam's purpose is to divert flood waters from heading south to Wallaceburg by damming up the river and diverting the excess water over to the St. Clair River via a man-made canal. As a result, it is only damming something if the water level gets too high. The dam was built in 1984. The Holt Line Bridge must have had some exciting times dealing with the full force of the spring flooding before the dam was around!
