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End Of An Era: Escambia County’s Last Wooden Bridge Being Replaced
November 12, 2016
It’s the end of an era was as work is underway to replace the very last all-wooden bridge owned by Escambia County. The bridge has been deemed structurally deficient.
The bridge, over Pritchett Mill Creek on Bluff Springs Road, was constructed in 1956. Bluff Springs Road is closed until about March 2017 for the bridge replacement. There are no permanent residences located beyond the road closure, but Escambia River, camp access and the Escambia River Wildlife Area are cut off.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
16 Responses to “End Of An Era: Escambia County’s Last Wooden Bridge Being Replaced”
>>>>Does anyone know if the road is open yet
It was not as of a few days ago
Does anyone know if the road is open yet
REGARDING:
“Kevin Ragon; for County Commissioner!”
In 4 years?
Regarding a state matter?
David for reduced confusion
Kevin Ragon; for County Commissioner!
It looked to me like they were driving steel pilings already.
Why not rebuild a new wood bridge, the last bridge lasted 60 years. The cost wouldn’t be significant at all.
To those of you complaining about the county, the state is the one that closed the road and that is said it is unsafe to cross. And yes the State of Florida is paying for it not the county.
Ahhh DHG,
The simple pleasures in life.
We’ve been enjoying them for years and are glad to know they will continue.
REGARDING:
“But they have money for a bridge to nowhere. Makes since to me.”
Sense
As William pointed out, it isn’t “nowhere” it is swimming, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, “pic-a-nics” (as Yogi Bear would say), blueberry and huckleberry eating and other recreational activities of benefit to thousands of people.
If they also dredged a channel from the big gravel lake to the cut-off, it would be easy boat access to the Escambia River, assuming it will have water again eventually.
David for the people
and alternative exits
Tear it down! No sense in keeping a junk bridge for “historical reasons”
Read a little more slowly.
“The bridge has been deemed structurally deficient.”
” but Escambia River, camp access and the Escambia River Wildlife Area are cut off.”
The bridge is the only access to the Escambia River Bluff Springs Recreation Area. It has two boat ramps, picnic tables, grills, fire rings, portable toilets, campsites for camping, picnics, canoes, boats, fishing seasonal hunting, etc. The area is closed until the bridge re-opens.
http://www.nwfwater.com/Lands/Recreation/Area/Escambia-River/Bluff-Springs
Lots of neighborhood roads in poor condition that are not county maintained with the county receiving thousands of dollars a year in property tax from these neighborhoods . But they have money for a bridge to nowhere. Makes since to me.
“Deemed structurally deficient.” So when somebody is injured or worse, because of the unsafe condition as the bridge deteriorates, the cry will be “why was it still open?”
Nothing wrong with it, but they are replacing it anyway? Sounds like a good way to waste money. I vote for the Historical marker. We all need to be out with real cameras taking photo’s of these structures, (not just bridges ) before all of them are gone.
@ Amy ….
AGREE with you, Amy.
Pretty soon the memories of ‘how we used to live’ will all be replaced and the kids will have nothing to look at and explore and discover on their own.
We always had fun looking at how the old wooden bridges were constructed and learned a lot about structure from them.
Give the future generations something to see instead of a concrete and asphalt thing.
If no permanent residences why spend the money? These are memories of history just leave it. Clean the area up if needed or fortify the bridge some but leave the past so to speak for future generations so see. Mark the loclocation Historical.