Abandoned swing bridge near Bigelow

[bugo]

Here are some snaps of an abandoned bridge I found near Bigelow, northwest of Little Rock over the Fourche LaFave River. I found out about the bridge when I found it on Terraserver. The approach spans are missing, as is the end panel on the western end of the bridge. The bridge is well-hidden, as I couldn't even see it until I got right up on it because of thick foliage. The best way to approach the bridge is from the west. This road was once highway 113 Spur.

[GlassCurtain]

That's freakin awesome!! very nice find!!

[White Rabbit]

Looks like a good place for a rope swing, if the water's deep enough.

[bugo]

I don't think I'd swim in that water. It looked pretty nasty.

[Ford Prefect]

By God..... I'm there!

[slow_walker]

okay, I know this is a stupid question, but why is it called a swing bridge? Does it rotate or move in some way?

[Ford Prefect]

That is exactly why it is called a "swing span bridge". Most engineers would build these bridges over commercial shipping lanes on rivers or canals to allow clearance for tall barges, boats, and ships. They also built raise spans, which would elevate and entire span of the bridge, like the ones here in Little Rock for the same reasons. For the most part that technology is dated, now most will just build higher.

[slow_walker]

thanks for the answer, that's kinda what I figured but I wasn't real sure.

And I will admit, before I read the thread and saw the pictures, by reading your title I had imagined a swinging pedestrian bridge like the kind they have in Silver Dollar City.