Whirlpool Highway Bridge

First, A Word About Niagara Bridges in General

I call all the Niagara River bridge the untouchable bridges. Sure, you can walk across the highway bridges, but you can't see anything from on the bridges. The river valley is far to steep to climb down and get detail shots of the bridge from. Even worse, these are international crossings and under heavy surveillance by people who probably are not going to buy the idea that you were just photographing the bridge. There are really only two bridges that merit showing on this webpage, this Whirlpool Highway Bridge and the Whirlpool Railroad Bridge. Although the Rainbow Bridge was built back in the 1930s, it is surprisingly plain in appearance and doe not appeal to me. Besides, it gets enough attention and care as it is. I should point out that if you visit this area, the other crossing, the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge from a distance looks like the Rainbow Bridge, but a simple drive by will show you that the Queenston Bridge lacks v-lacing on the bracing. It was built some 30 years later, as a so-called replica. Both the Whirlpool Bridges are cantilever structures, although they resemble arch bridges. The members on a true arch bridge are always vertical, never angled.

The Whirlpool Highway Bridge

This cantilever bridge looks very similar, to the railroad bridge it sits next to. However this bridge is nearly 30 years older than the railroad bridge. The highway bridge was completed in 1897.  This is a double-deck bridge. Although I did not have time, if you wanted to with this bridge you could get some more pictures of this bridge by walking across it, as it has a sidewalk, which is below the top deck of the bridge. The members on this bridge appear to be very massive. V-lacing and lattice is present on many members. The pedestrian sidewalk railings look original, and interesting. I wish this bridge were located where the Rainbow Bridge is, since I feel it is a much more beautiful bridge and should receive more attention than it does.