When Fall arrives . . .
Back in 2013, not one, but two, riveted-steel, Pratt through-truss bridge restorations were completed in Robertson County at Little Brazos River locations on Providence Road northwest of Hearne and on Wildcat Bridge Road west of Calvert. These restorations were accomplished by the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) Historic Bridge program.
"Since state and federal laws recognize the importance of preserving significant elements of our cultural and engineering heritage, TxDOT is sometimes able to work with counties and local partners to preserve unique historic bridges," commented TxDOT spokesman Bob Colwell in 2013. "These sturdy and still-usable metal bridges are important parts of our transportation heritage."
Several years ago, TxDOT asked the Robertson County Commissioners Court whether they wanted these old bridges restored or replaced with much more modern concrete structures. "Restore" was the county's response. Both bridges are on TxDOT's list of historic bridges and are eligible for National Register of Historic Place designations.
"We're very fortunate to have two beautifully restored bridges in our county," said then-Robertson County Judge Jan Roe. "Preserving these treasures for current and future generations to see and use made far greater sense than destroying and replacing them."
Closed to traffic just shy of a year, TxDOT contracted with DCI, a division of Davis Construction, which works with BACH Ornamental & Structural Steel out of Holt, Michigan on many historic bridge restorations. Due to rivet by rivet inspections and attention to historic detail, these bridges are likely in far better conditions now than they were when re-located to Robertson County back in the 1940s.
These 100+ year old hand-me-downs are believed to have been parts of the multi-section 1896 Bryan-Caldwell Road Brazos River Bridge that was abandoned in the late 1930s when TX21 was constructed. The largest piece of this venerable structure replaced Milam County's fallen Faubion Bridge over Little River near Sugarloaf Mountain. TxDOT beautifully restored it as a pedestrian bridge. An old drawing shows five other approach spans to the old Brazos/Burleson County bridge. At least three of these were likely relocated to and given new lives in Robertson County.
While Providence and Wildcat can accommodate up to 24,000-pound tandem axle loads, yet another old bridge, the Hearne/Port Sullivan Bridge, still exists but is inaccessible to the public. Retired and rusting in place between Zane Wallace and Reistino Roads, its approaches have long-since washed out. With mature trees growing-up through its rotted wooden roadbed, it is an ideal candidate for future restoration, lest it be lost to the ages.
Important economic and social connectors for agricultural communities, these bridges have witnessed a transportation evolution from riding horseback, to horse-drawn carriages, to Model Ts or Model As, to modern vehicles. These nostalgic bridges will likely become central Texas motoring, cycling, photographing, and strolling favorites.
Robertson County now has one of each of TxDOT's two historic bridge colors. The Providence Bridge is light gray while the Wildcat Bridge is dark blue, almost black. The truss sections on both bridges are 150 feet long. Providence's total bridge length is 173 feet; Wildcat is 326 feet long.
Drive across one or both of these very stable but creaky historic treasures. A short trip west off of TX6 between Hearne and Calvert towards the Brazos River will take you and your family across both unique bridges and on a journey through the past beside rural farmlands.
From the south, take a left on Red Hill Road about two miles north of Hearne on TX6. At Providence Road, take another left. You'll cross the Providence Bridge on your way towards FM1644. Turn right on 1644. Go through the Brazos bottom until you reach Wildcat Bridge Road. Turn left. The Wildcat Bridge is ahead past the Calvert Country Club. Once over this bridge, make a u-turn before you reach the railroad tracks. Retrace your steps until you get back to FM1644 and proceed due east into Calvert.
Explore for yourself the "Bridges of Robertson County." To find GPS co-ordinates, online maps, and other information, search "Robertson County Texas" on bridgehunter.com.
Back in 2013, not one, but two, riveted-steel, Pratt through-truss bridge restorations were completed in Robertson County at Little Brazos River locations on Providence Road northwest of Hearne and on Wildcat Bridge Road west of Calvert. These restorations were accomplished by the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) Historic Bridge program.
"Since state and federal laws recognize the importance of preserving significant elements of our cultural and engineering heritage, TxDOT is sometimes able to work with counties and local partners to preserve unique historic bridges," commented TxDOT spokesman Bob Colwell in 2013. "These sturdy and still-usable metal bridges are important parts of our transportation heritage."
Several years ago, TxDOT asked the Robertson County Commissioners Court whether they wanted these old bridges restored or replaced with much more modern concrete structures. "Restore" was the county's response. Both bridges are on TxDOT's list of historic bridges and are eligible for National Register of Historic Place designations.
"We're very fortunate to have two beautifully restored bridges in our county," said then-Robertson County Judge Jan Roe. "Preserving these treasures for current and future generations to see and use made far greater sense than destroying and replacing them."
Closed to traffic just shy of a year, TxDOT contracted with DCI, a division of Davis Construction, which works with BACH Ornamental & Structural Steel out of Holt, Michigan on many historic bridge restorations. Due to rivet by rivet inspections and attention to historic detail, these bridges are likely in far better conditions now than they were when re-located to Robertson County back in the 1940s.
These 100+ year old hand-me-downs are believed to have been parts of the multi-section 1896 Bryan-Caldwell Road Brazos River Bridge that was abandoned in the late 1930s when TX21 was constructed. The largest piece of this venerable structure replaced Milam County's fallen Faubion Bridge over Little River near Sugarloaf Mountain. TxDOT beautifully restored it as a pedestrian bridge. An old drawing shows five other approach spans to the old Brazos/Burleson County bridge. At least three of these were likely relocated to and given new lives in Robertson County.
While Providence and Wildcat can accommodate up to 24,000-pound tandem axle loads, yet another old bridge, the Hearne/Port Sullivan Bridge, still exists but is inaccessible to the public. Retired and rusting in place between Zane Wallace and Reistino Roads, its approaches have long-since washed out. With mature trees growing-up through its rotted wooden roadbed, it is an ideal candidate for future restoration, lest it be lost to the ages.
Important economic and social connectors for agricultural communities, these bridges have witnessed a transportation evolution from riding horseback, to horse-drawn carriages, to Model Ts or Model As, to modern vehicles. These nostalgic bridges will likely become central Texas motoring, cycling, photographing, and strolling favorites.
Robertson County now has one of each of TxDOT's two historic bridge colors. The Providence Bridge is light gray while the Wildcat Bridge is dark blue, almost black. The truss sections on both bridges are 150 feet long. Providence's total bridge length is 173 feet; Wildcat is 326 feet long.
Drive across one or both of these very stable but creaky historic treasures. A short trip west off of TX6 between Hearne and Calvert towards the Brazos River will take you and your family across both unique bridges and on a journey through the past beside rural farmlands.
From the south, take a left on Red Hill Road about two miles north of Hearne on TX6. At Providence Road, take another left. You'll cross the Providence Bridge on your way towards FM1644. Turn right on 1644. Go through the Brazos bottom until you reach Wildcat Bridge Road. Turn left. The Wildcat Bridge is ahead past the Calvert Country Club. Once over this bridge, make a u-turn before you reach the railroad tracks. Retrace your steps until you get back to FM1644 and proceed due east into Calvert.
Explore for yourself the "Bridges of Robertson County." To find GPS co-ordinates, online maps, and other information, search "Robertson County Texas" on bridgehunter.com.
