Historic Bridge Marketing Pages
One way in which historic bridges may be preserved is when a bridge slated for replacement is given to a new owner for relocation and restoration/rehabilitation. Similarly, abandoned bridges may be available for relocation and reuse. This is referred to a historic bridge marketing. Need a bridge for a bike path, nature trail, or golf course? Instead of spending money on a nondescript pre-fabricated truss bridge, consider instead reusing a historic bridge that will be a beautiful historic landmark, while also promoting the values of sustainability. Some states have made the bridges they are currently marketing available on a website. The links to those websites appear below.
Individually Listed Bridges
California: Honeydew Bridge, Humboldt County, California
The Honeydew Bridge was built in 1920 by the Mercer-Fraser Company of Eureka, California, and is a single-lane (17 foot wide), two-span, 386-foot-long structure (two 187 foot spans) in Humboldt County where Mattole Road crosses over Mattole River approximately 13 miles west of Highway 101 in the town of Honeydew. Built in 1920, the existing bridge is a timber decked, rivet-connected Camelback (Parker/Pratt) steel truss bridge.
(Proposals Due: February 1, 2024)
Download Full Information Packet (Has additional photos and information).
California: Daggett Road Bridge
This is a highway truss swing bridge with pinned connections (plus a small fixed pin-connected pony truss approach span) that pivots on a central point. Constructed in 1902, the bridge crosses Burns Cutoff with a main span measuring approximately 153 feet. The oldest existing movable highway bridge in California, it is located at the south end of Daggett Road in the Stockton West, California 7.5-minute U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle in T1N, 6E, MDBM.
The bridge is individually eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C at the state level of significance, for its 1902 construction as the oldest existing moveable highway span in the state of California. In 1904, W.C. Daggett built the bridge still in place across the Burns Cut Off on the south side of the island, with a road leading down to the line of the Santa Fe Railway a short distance south. From the bridge, Daggett Road led north into the island along the west border of Daggett’ s property. … One element, the Daggett Road Bridge, is considered both individually eligible and a contributor to the district, though it falls outside of the defined period of construction. This inclusion is attributed to the importance of availability for access on and off the island, beginning around the turn of the century. This vehicular access, preceding even railroad access, was undoubtedly a factor in the Navy’s decision to occupy the island.
Texas: County Road (CR) 232 over San Marcos River (Slayden Bridge)
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is offering the historic bridge detailed below for adoption and reuse according to federal transportation and historic preservation laws. The bridge is located in Gonzales County, on County Road (CR) 232 crossing San Marcos River. Interested parties may request additional information, indicate an interest, or submit a reuse proposal by contacting:
Barbara Obelgoner, Environmental Specialist TxDOT Yoakum District
Mailing Address: 403 Huck Street
Yoakum, TX 77995-2804
Phone Number: (361) 293-4371
Email address: Barbara.Obelgoner@txdot.gov
Bridge Location
▪ County: Gonzales County
▪ Highway or Facility: CR 232
▪ Feature Crossed: San Marcos River
▪ GIS Locational Information https://arcg.is/0P5SDf0
Span 1 Information
▪ Bridge Owner Gonzales County
▪ Main-span Type: Pratt-through truss
▪ Main-span Length 98 feet
▪ Roadway Width 16 feet
▪ Year Built Between 1898 and 1907
▪ Builder E.P. Alsbury & Son (Houston, TX)
Span 2 Information
▪ 
Bridge Owner Gonzales County
▪ Main-span Type: Half-hip pony truss
▪ Main-span Length 59.5 feet
▪ Roadway Width 16 feet
▪ Year Built Unknown
▪ Builder Unknown
Span 3 Information
▪ Bridge Owner Gonzales County
▪ Main-span Type: Warren pony truss
▪ Main-span Length 76 feet
▪ Roadway Width 16 feet
▪ Year Built Unknown
▪ Builder Unknown
Historic Significance of the Bridge
In 2014, the Texas State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) determined all extant metal truss bridges in Texas historically significant under Criterion C at the local level as rare surviving examples of their type.
The CR 232 at San Marcos River Bridges consists of a pinned Pratt through truss, a pined Pratt half-hip pony truss, a riveted Warren pony truss and 5 non-contributing steel stringer approach spans. The through-truss was constructed in 1898 by E.P. Alsbury & Son (Houston, Texas) — agent for N.J. Steel and Iron Co. The half-hip was constructed in 1907. The construction date for the Warren pony truss is unknown, but might be circa 1920. Special features of the bridge include perforated county name in the portals on the Pratt through- truss, ornamentation over one portal, and decorative knee bracing. The bridge is significant as a rare surviving example of once-common types except for the half-hip which was a rare type. It is also significant for the use of three truss spans to cross the San Marcos River and for high artistic value in the decorative portal and knee bracing.
Texas: CR-382 Resley Creek, Riveted Warren Pony Truss:
Bridge Information
- Owner: Comanche County
- Type: Warren pony truss
- Length: Approximately 50 feet
- Width: Approximately 16 feet
- Year Built: 1922
- Current Location: CR-382 over Resley Creek
Narrative Description
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) seeks adopters for the historic bridge detailed below for reuse according to federal transportation and historic preservation laws. The bridge is located in Comanche County, on County Road (CR) 382 crossing Resley Creek. Letters of interest and/or reuse proposals will be accepted until 5 p.m. on November 30, 2022. TxDOT is currently undergoing alternatives analysis for this project. The outcome of the analysis may impact the availability of this bridge. Priority for assistance will be given to public entities seeking to reuse the bridge in a public or publicly visible space. Bridges available through this program are not suitable for vehicular service. All rehabilitation work must conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation in consultation with the Texas Historical Commission (THC). Interested parties may request additional information, indicate an interest, or submit a reuse proposal by contacting:
Andrew Chisholm, District Environmental Coordinator
TxDOT Brownwood District
2495 HWY 183 North, Brownwood, TX 76802
Phone Number: (325) 643-0442
Email address: andrew.chisholm@txdot.gov
Bridge Marketing Websites By State
Note that states without an available link do not currently have a historic bridge marketing page. Please contact the DOT directly for inquiries on available bridges. A list of DOT websites is available here.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan (Unofficial List of Potentially Available Abandoned Bridges)
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana – Information and Contacts Only
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee – Information and Contacts Only
Texas
Denton County, Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Nationwide Listings of Unconfirmed But Potentially Available Bridges Only
United States Nationwide – Unconfirmed potentially available bridges on BridgeHunter.