The original bridge had the grated deck in the cantilever section to help reduce wind stresses. The wind could pass right thru the deck rather than buffet around it.
Thank you for posting this! At 28 years old, I remember quite well going over the old bridge, as well as the construction of the new bridge. I was 9 when the new bridge opened and I remember being bummed as it was not as fun or visually impressive. The grate was the best part, and its safe to say that I definitely miss the old bridge.
I went over this bridge three times when it was opened. I remember being scared to death of the grate part. I always wondered why they put a grate in the middle of the bridge. The only other bridges I have ever seen a grate on are draw bridges. On the way back from North Kingstown, my uncle drove me back through Providence I was so scared. I was only about 8 years old at the time. At that time, pretty much all of the pylons were constructed for the new bridge.
That's really cool that you were able to find actual footage of the old Jamestown Bridge when it was open and post it here.... I'm 22 years old so I am too young to remember crossing it but I did see it on the way to Cape Cod in its abandoned state some years later. Have to wonder if it would have taken the fate of I-35W in Minneapolis had it not been replaced in time, or at the least, cause Jamestown residents to suffer a fate similar to Crown Point, NY and that bridge's sudden closure.
The original bridge had the grated deck in the cantilever section to help reduce wind stresses. The wind could pass right thru the deck rather than buffet around it.
hwyfan 4 months ago
Thank you for posting this! At 28 years old, I remember quite well going over the old bridge, as well as the construction of the new bridge. I was 9 when the new bridge opened and I remember being bummed as it was not as fun or visually impressive. The grate was the best part, and its safe to say that I definitely miss the old bridge.
ElementalMark 4 months ago
I also like how you have footage of the original access road on the North Kingstown side.
MatthewKenney 5 months ago
I went over this bridge three times when it was opened. I remember being scared to death of the grate part. I always wondered why they put a grate in the middle of the bridge. The only other bridges I have ever seen a grate on are draw bridges. On the way back from North Kingstown, my uncle drove me back through Providence I was so scared. I was only about 8 years old at the time. At that time, pretty much all of the pylons were constructed for the new bridge.
MatthewKenney 5 months ago
That's really cool that you were able to find actual footage of the old Jamestown Bridge when it was open and post it here.... I'm 22 years old so I am too young to remember crossing it but I did see it on the way to Cape Cod in its abandoned state some years later. Have to wonder if it would have taken the fate of I-35W in Minneapolis had it not been replaced in time, or at the least, cause Jamestown residents to suffer a fate similar to Crown Point, NY and that bridge's sudden closure.
dadsoldtapes 8 months ago
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dadsoldtapes 8 months ago