Demolition of the Drawbridge Across the Black Warrior River, 1973

2 Draw Bridge 19740309.JPG
4 Draw Bridge 19740309.JPG

Title

Demolition of the Drawbridge Across the Black Warrior River, 1973

Subject

Drawbridges
Black Warrior River (Ala.)

Description

A drawbridge over the Black Warrior River that connected Northport to Tuscaloosa was used until late 1973 when the new Hugh Thomas Bridge was opened.

The drawbridge was built in 1922 at a cost of $196,511 on pillars that had been there since 1897. The pillars were encased in concrete when the drawbridge was built.

By the mid-1960s, the bridge was in need of repair and closed several times for temporary repairs, frustrating motorists who were trying to get across the river. Fortunately, by that time, the Woolsey Finnell Bridge on the U.S. Hwy. 82 By-Pass was open, so there was an alternative route. That created traffic problems on University Boulevard, however.

Work began in late 1968 on a new bridge to connect Northport and Tuscaloosa that was to become the Hugh Thomas Bridge. The bridge opened to traffic Dec. 17, 1973 at a cost of $7 million.

Efforts were made to save the old drawbridge by the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society and its president Marvin Harper, but efforts were too late and futile. The U.S. Coast Guard had issued a permit for construction of the new bridge stipulating that the old bridge be removed within 90 days of the opening of the new bridge. Though the Coast Guard had requested comments from the public before issuing the permit, evidently no requests for retention of the old bridge were received. So the old drawbridge disappeared into history.

Creator

Calvin Hannah

Source

Tuscaloosa News Archive

Publisher

The Tuscaloosa News

Date

1972

Contributor

Betty Slowe (Description)

Rights

The Tuscaloosa News

Type

Photograph

Identifier

973

Coverage

Tuscaloosa (AL)

Original Format

Newspaper