Stone Arch Bridge, Blue Ridge Parkwy, near Roanoke, VA - Stone Bridges on Waymarking.com

"The most distinctive architectural feature of the Blue Ridge Parkway is its outstanding collection of bridges and grade separation structures, which allow the parkway to cross streams or pass safely over or under other roads. Many of these 168 structures have a rustic stone appearance that blends well with the mountain landscape; others are sleek modern steel and reinforced concrete structures.

The stone facing for these structures was a hallmark of the rustic style of architecture employed by the National Park Service, which dictate the use of materials that would enable structures to harmonize with their environments. The stone was generally obtained from quarries located near the construction site. In other cases, stone was obtained from rock cuts created during the construction of the roadway. As the parkway traverses several distinct geological areas over its nearly 500-mile length, the type and appearance of the stone used in the work varies from location to location.

Different arch shapes were employed, the choice being dictated by the length of span and topographic conditions. Most were segmental arches rising from straight-sided abutment walls. The elliptical arch was occasionally used where there was sufficient horizontal clearance to carry the arch all the way to the ground, usually where the parkway intersected primary roads. Circular arches were employed for some narrower spans. Many bridges are curved or skewed, crossing a road or stream on a diagonal so as not to interrupt the flow of the roadway.






Text excerpted from "Highways in Harmony" publication produced by Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), in cooperation with the National Park Foundation."

Cited from website of national park Service: (visit link)

Physical Location (city, county, etc.): Roanoke County, VA Road, Highway, Street, etc.: Blue Ridge Parkway, near MM 117, Bandy Road, Co Rd 666 Water or other terrain spanned: Parkway Architect/Builder: Not listed Construction Date: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/10/2018 just for the fun visited it 09/06/2014 NCDaywalker visited it

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