Van Duzen River Bridge - near Bridgeville, California - Arch Bridges on Waymarking.com

The Van Duzen River Bridge (also known as the Lower Blackburn Grade Bridge) is a reinforced concrete through arch. The main span is approximately 150 feet long while the overall structure length is 258 feet. The bridge features an ornate concrete through arch with inset panels along the arch.
The Lower Blackburn Grade Bridge is one of five bridges designed by John B. Leonard along the Fortuna-Red Bluff Highway (CA-36) from 1923 to 1925. The bridge was built as part of a highway realignment project under taken by Humboldt County. The highway had a treacherous grade known as Blackburn Grade in which dangerous curves, steep grades and natural hazards had taken many lives and caused a need for a realignment project.
The Lower Blackburn Grade Bridge was bypassed in 1985 by an adjacent reinforced concrete box girder bridge, which was dedicated to Silvio “Botchie” Santi an Italian immigrant who lived in the area.

Length of bridge: 258 feet What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Originally motor vehicles, now abandoned. What kind of gap does this bridge cross?: Van Duzen River Date constructed: 1925 Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: No Name of road or trail the bridge services: Abandoned segment of Hwy. 36 Location: West of the small community of Bridgeville. Height of bridge: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   01/17/2019 lirpAjh visited it 09/19/2013 Volcanoguy visited it

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