In 1886, the town, originally called Tally- Ho, was renamed Iron Bridge when the new bridge, built by the Hamilton Bridge Company, was completed. The bridge was the first iron bridge in Ontario. This is not that bridge.
This iron bridge sits off to the side below a modern concrete beam bridge in the area near Brockton, Ontario. It is next to a parking lot for a natural dock for watercraft (canoes, rafts) traveling down the river.
Iron bridges became popular in Ontario from 1890s through the 1950s and were used to carry vehicles, trains and pedestrians across the river. Concrete arch or beam structured bridges (the latter the modern bridge pictured below) replaced many of the iron bridges beginning in the 1960s through today. An article on concrete bridge design is here.
It appears that this bridge will remain here for some time. The new bridge has circumvented the need to go down in elevation to cross the river and this bridge is structural sound for its current purpose. The signs for weight capacity remain but the bridge access has been barricaded with concrete blocks to prevent vehicles driving down to the bridge. My first photo of the bridge was taken standing next to the concrete bollards.
This iron bridge sits off to the side below a modern concrete beam bridge in the area near Brockton, Ontario. It is next to a parking lot for a natural dock for watercraft (canoes, rafts) traveling down the river.
Iron bridges became popular in Ontario from 1890s through the 1950s and were used to carry vehicles, trains and pedestrians across the river. Concrete arch or beam structured bridges (the latter the modern bridge pictured below) replaced many of the iron bridges beginning in the 1960s through today. An article on concrete bridge design is here.
It appears that this bridge will remain here for some time. The new bridge has circumvented the need to go down in elevation to cross the river and this bridge is structural sound for its current purpose. The signs for weight capacity remain but the bridge access has been barricaded with concrete blocks to prevent vehicles driving down to the bridge. My first photo of the bridge was taken standing next to the concrete bollards.