A bridge runs over it

Depending on which side of the river you grew up on the steel span is known as the Nitro-St. Albans Bridge or the St. Albans-Nitro Bridge, but it has been (since 1934) a connection between two small towns.

Nitro and St. Albans High Schools have always been “rivals” because of their proximity. Can you say “cross-river rivals” as compared to cross-town? I remember, in high school, piling into a buddy’s car and going over the bridge (circa 1983/84) to go to one of the two Taco Bells in the valley for lunch. And then racing back quickly before the next period bell rang. I dated girls on the other side of that bridge, went to some of the nicer restaurants in the valley for special dinners over that bridge and worked at Husson’s Pizza’s St. Albans store from time to time over that bridge (I worked in the Cross Lanes store in high school, but went over there to fill in from time to time.)

I also remember driving over it 20 years ago thinking that it was too small and falling apart.

This morning I watched the St. Albans side of the bridge get blown up to make way for a new one. Next week, they will drop the Nitro side. And then a new bridge will go up in its place. I’m sure that new bridge will serve the two communities equally well, bringing them back together in the same way the old one did. And I fully understand the reason for tearing the old one down. Still, it’s sad to see that piece of history torn down.

The following is from the website Bridgemapper.com, with historical/design details for the bridge.
“The 1934 Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge is the oldest cantilever bridge over the entire Kanawha River. The structure is unusual for several different reasons. It is an extremely rare example of a cantilever in which the entire top chord is divided into only 9 sections. With most cantilevers, the top chord curves upwards to form pointed towers. With the Dick Henderson Bridge, the top chord has a linear upwards slope and towers with flat tops. It is the only cantilever bridge like it in the area. In the early 1930’s, virtually all steel bridges were comprised of built up v-laced compression members. The Dick Henderson Bridge only uses rolled H-section beams for all of its members. H-section rolled beams did not even begin to be used on bridges until around 1920. The beams are more often seen on bridges from around 1940 and beyond, making the Dick Henderson Bridge look much more modern than it is.”

Many thanks to JD Pauley and the Hobby III for the unique perspective of being in the middle of the river for the event.

The following includes seven images, out of 30, taken during the blast.