Dames Point Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Dames Point Bridge is a cable-stayed
bridge
over the St. Johns River
in Jacksonville
, Florida
on State Road 9A. Construction began in 1985 and it was completed in 1989. The main span is 1300 feet, and is 175 feet high. The bridge was designed by HNTB Corporation
and built by Massman Construction Company.
Until the completion of the Sidney Lanier Bridge
in Brunswick, Georgia
in 2003, it was the only bridge in the United States
to feature the harp (parallel) stay arrangement. The cables are arranged on multiple vertical planes, making a slight modification to the harp arrangement. Main span cables are paired to anchor into the tower in a vertical plane. Side span cables pair up to anchor in a horizontal plane. By doing this, four cables anchor in the tower at approximately the same elevation.
The Dames Point Bridge was the third cable-stayed bridge
built in the Western hemisphere, and currently the 77th largest in the world on the List of largest cable-stayed bridges
on September 12 of the same year (see video).
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
over the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
in Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
on State Road 9A. Construction began in 1985 and it was completed in 1989. The main span is 1300 feet, and is 175 feet high. The bridge was designed by HNTB Corporation
HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an architecture and engineering consulting firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri that has designed many bridges, roadways, airports and professional sports stadiums across the United States and around the world.The firm started in 1914 as Harrington, Howard & Ash...
and built by Massman Construction Company.
Until the completion of the Sidney Lanier Bridge
Sidney Lanier Bridge
The Sidney Lanier Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that spans the Brunswick River in Brunswick, Georgia, carrying four lanes of U.S. Route 17. The current bridge was built as a replacement to the original lift bridge which was twice struck by ships. It is currently the longest spanning bridge in...
in Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick is the major urban and economic center in southeastern Georgia in the United States. The municipality is located on a harbor near the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles north of Florida and 70 miles south of South Carolina. Brunswick is bordered on the east by the Atlantic...
in 2003, it was the only bridge in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to feature the harp (parallel) stay arrangement. The cables are arranged on multiple vertical planes, making a slight modification to the harp arrangement. Main span cables are paired to anchor into the tower in a vertical plane. Side span cables pair up to anchor in a horizontal plane. By doing this, four cables anchor in the tower at approximately the same elevation.
The Dames Point Bridge was the third cable-stayed bridge
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
built in the Western hemisphere, and currently the 77th largest in the world on the List of largest cable-stayed bridges
Trapped inspectors
On May 15, 1989, the rope holding up a bucket used in an inspection of the bridge failed, leaving workers trapped. All workers were successfully rescued. The story of this rescue effort was aired on Rescue 911Rescue 911
Rescue 911 is an informational reality-based television series, hosted by William Shatner. Originally intended to be only a set of three TV specials, Rescue 911 was picked up by CBS for the 1989 fall season after two specials aired on April 18, 1989 and May 9, 1989...
on September 12 of the same year (see video).