Prepare yourself to be amazed. We’re standing before the Calvert Bridge. It is more than just a structure. It is a testament to ingenuity and perseverance. This bridge whispering tales of a bygone era.
The Calvert Bridge has a fascinating history. Many who drive across it are unaware of its past. The current bridge, built in 1935, replaced an older iron truss bridge. This original bridge was completed in 1891. Imagine that large span towering over Rock Creek Park.
The original bridge was ingeniously moved to make way for the new one. In 1934, a team of horses moved the entire iron truss bridge. It was a remarkable feat of engineering.
Rock Creek Park presented a challenge for Washington’s development. Travelers had to navigate steep embankments to cross the creek. They went down one side and up the other.
Before the Calvert Bridge a wooden bridge served as the first attempt. It was built in the 1870s on Woodley’s Lane. This lane connected Adams Morgan to the summer estates of Woodley Park.
Senator Francis G. Newlands played a crucial role. He secretly purchased land to extend Connecticut Avenue. His Rock Creek Railway Company needed bridges to cross Rock Creek. These bridges would transport new homeowners north of the city.
Construction on the iron truss bridge began. This bridge would connect Columbia Road and Connecticut Avenue. The Edgemore Bridge Company completed it in 1891. Upon completion, the city government took ownership.
The original Calvert Bridge was impressive. It was 755 feet long and cost about $70000. The wrought iron used weighed 1266 tons.
In 1917, architect George Oakley Totten Jr. was hired. He would design a new Calvert Street bridge. However, his design was deemed too costly. It might overshadow the Connecticut Avenue Bridge.
Totten advocated for his stone arch design. But the Commission of Fine Arts rejected it. In 1933, Paul Crete was chosen as the chief designer. His first design was also rejected. The commission finally approved a masonry design with multiple arches.
The need to cross Rock Creek persisted. So the original iron bridge was moved. In 1934, it was moved 80 feet downstream. This allowed traffic to continue until the new bridge was completed.
Engineer John Eichleay Jr. managed the move. His grandfather founded a company specializing in moving difficult objects.
On June 7, 1934, the bridge’s piers were lowered onto a track. This track was fitted with wheels. Workers cut the railroad tracks above. Horses then pulled the bridge using block and tackle. In just over seven hours, the bridge was in its new location.
Thousands watched this spectacle. The railroad track was reattached quickly. Traffic resumed in less than two hours. After the new bridge opened in 1935, the original Calvert Street Bridge was dismantled for scrap.
Today, the Calvert Bridge stands as a testament to innovation. It also highlights the city’s evolving infrastructure. It connects communities. The Calvert Bridge symbolizes progress and the enduring spirit of Washington D.C.