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Key Facts |
Bridge Name |
Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
| Prospect Street Bridge | Truss (Non-Historic) | Prospect Street | Niagara County, NY | Lockport | Erie Canal |
HistoricBridges.org places this bridge on the website to provide an example of a brand new truss bridge. In fact, this bridge was still being completed when visited in spring of 2005. It is interesting to take a look at a new truss bridge and see if it looks nice and how it compares to a historic truss bridge.
HistoricBridges.org is supportive of the construction of modern truss bridges as an aesthetic alternative to normal ugly modern bridges, but only in cases when a historic bridge is not demolished as part of the project.
What do historic truss bridges usually have that this one does not? First off, the clean and orderly appearance of a rivet than than the clunky and uneven appearance of a bolt are present on historic bridges. Old bridges were riveted and new bridges are bolted or have cheap looking welds. Another, even more important thing that is lacking on modern bridges is built-up beams, often including attractive v-lacing and lattice. V-lacing and lattice add to the intricacy of a truss bridge and also add an ornate appearance to the bridge. They keep the bridge from looking plain. V-lacing turns a steel i-beam into a decoration. Back when v-lacing was used, the decision was more of an economical one than a aesthetic one, but in today's world of plain concrete slabs, v-lacing is a thing of beauty. Historic bridges were often one-lane or narrow two-lane bridges, which gave them a tall appearance. Modern historic bridges when built will be two-lane and so they have a shorter appearance, resulting in a less dramatic bridge appearance.
A modern truss bridge is a million times better than building a concrete slab. Even a modern truss bridge is aesthetic, and creates a good climax as you pass over the river or canal in this case. However, HistoricBridges.org has been forced to condemn bridges such as this because they are often flaunted by state DOTs and other agency's as replicas of historic bridges (which they are not even remotely close to being), and tout them as acceptable substitutes to well-planned historic bridge preservation projects. This attitude is insulting to the numerous successful preservation historic bridge preservation projects that preservationists, engineers, historians, and craftsmen have worked hard to complete. Further, it diminishes the awareness of the general public to the importance of preserving existing historic bridges.
This bridge did indeed replace a historic truss bridge. Original lattice railings were salvaged and incorporated into this new bridge. The old Prospect Street Bridge had been closed to traffic due to deterioration a few years before the replacement was built. The current bridge sits on a slightly different alignment than the original bridge.
