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"County
Road 149 at the Paluxy
River, vicinity of Bluff Dale,
Texas
In 1891, Texas bridge builder William Flinn assembled this highly
unusual cable-stayed bridge using iron pipes, rods and castings. Wrapped
wire cables complete the 140-foot invention. Crossing the Paluxy
River near rural Bluff Dale.
This technological wonder remains as the earliest known cable-stayed
bridge in the United States." - Jim
& Lou Kinsey, 2003 |
Historical
Marker Text:
Bluff Dale
Suspension Bridge
For at least 20
years vehicles had to ford the Paluxy
River to reach Bluff Dale
and points west. Wagon traffic increased after the Fort Worth & Rio
Grande Railroad line reached the town in 1889. This iron bridge began
to serve the public by spanning the Paluxy
about 1891, on the main access road that became State Highway 10 and
later U.S. 377. By 1933 arterial highway travel demanded a wider bridge.
In 1934 authorities moved the "swinging" bridge 1.5 miles upstream
where it serves local traffic. |
The Bluff Dale
Suspension Bridge Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2008 |
Another view
of the Bluff Dale Suspension Bridge
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2008 |
The Lost Through
Truss Bridge
On CR 159:
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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