Here’s a question. Have you ever wondered how many bridges have stood at this very spot?
Welcome to the Spring Garden Street Bridge. It is a vital artery connecting West Philadelphia to cultural landmarks. These include the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This isn’t just any bridge. It’s the fourth one to grace this location.
Let’s journey back to the early 19th century. Imagine a marvel of engineering called “The Colossus.” Bridgebuilder Louis Wernwag designed it. It opened on January 7, 1813. This wooden bridge spanned an impressive 340 feet. It was the longest single-span wooden bridge in the United States. People also knew it as the “Colossus of Fairmount.” It was also called the “Upper Ferry Bridge” and the “Lancaster Schuylkill Bridge.” Sadly, this magnificent structure met its end in a fire on September 1, 1838.
Paintings captured the bridge’s grandeur. Thomas Birch created at least two views of “The Colossus.” Jacob J. Plocher then transformed one into an engraving in 1813. This engraving became a popular design on Staffordshire china.
Next came the “Wire Bridge at Fairmount.” Charles Ellet, Jr. designed this innovative structure. It opened to traffic on January 2, 1842. This wire-cable suspension bridge was a significant advancement. It stood for over thirty years.
The Callowhill Street Bridge followed. Jacob H. Linville designed this double-decker bridge. The Keystone Bridge Company built it between 1874 and 1875. It accommodated passengers, vehicles, streetcars, and even trains. The bridge was demolished in 1964.
Finally, we arrive at the present Spring Garden Street Bridge. Richard Wisniewski of Philadelphia designed it. The bridge was completed in 1965. It carries West Spring Garden Street over several important routes. These include the Pennsylvania Railroad lines, the Schuylkill Expressway, and the Schuylkill River. It also crosses the Schuylkill River Trail. The West River Drive Bridge passes diagonally beneath it. It carries the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive over the Schuylkill River.
In 1966, the Spring Garden Street Bridge and the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Bridge received an award of merit. The AISC gave the award for their steel box-girder design. Superior Scaffold provided a work deck solution for asbestos abatement. Workers also removed old rusted electrical conduit.
The Spring Garden Street Bridge stands as a testament to Philadelphia’s history and engineering. It connects not just places, but also eras. As you cross this bridge, remember the generations of innovation. Remember the ingenuity that has spanned the Schuylkill River for centuries.