Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Bridge - Senator William V. Roth, Jr. Bridge

I cannot leave the discussion of bridges without talking about the C & D Canal Bridge. (officially named Senator William V. Roth, Jr. Bridge)

I thought that there could never be a bridge as beautiful as a suspension bridge. You may have guessed that my favorite one is the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge in Cincinnati. I grew up with it and it has a memory of family times on the Ohio River as well as the beauty of the bridge.

The C & D Canal Bridge is another one I met from the water side. In 1993 or 194, we were taking our sailboat the Innisfree from Atlantic City to the Chesapeake for the summer. We could see the bridge in the distance and wondered how it was being built. They were not very far from the North side, with what we later realized was preformed concrete. Also, we could see that there were only two single towers showing above the deck level. It was a curious way to build a bridge. 

We figured out the preformed pieces one day on the Chesapeake, when there appeared to be an Aircraft Carrier coming up the bay. We were in the upper Chesapeake and no way was it deep enough. As it got closer we realized that it was a barge carrying the preformed pieces for the bridge.



Evolution of Cable Stayed Bridges
http://www.structuremag.org/article.aspx?articleID=768





Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Bridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_%26_Delaware_Canal_Bridge

  We were fascinated enough with the bridge, that when we drove down to the boat on the weekends, we would check in on the progress. It was fascinating watching it progress. I can imagine people having the same fascination with the building of the Great Suspension Bridges.I love the way the finished bridge looks like it has sails.

I was not on the return trip to bring the boat back to Atlantic City, but I have still maintained my love for this bridge.  Less lacey then the suspension bridge but beautiful in its simplicity. Below the pictures you will find links to the history of the bridge and other cable stayed bridges.

Evolution of Cable Stayed Bridges
http://www.structuremag.org/article.aspx?articleID=768

For more information:

Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C & D Canal)
  http://www.pennways.com/CD_Canal.html

Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Bridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_%26_Delaware_Canal_Bridge

Do you have a favorite bridge? Where is it? What kind of structure?