Annotated Links to Web Sites on Bascule Bridges

New York City Department of Transportation: This site caters to both a lay person interested in bascule bridges and an engineer interested in the technical details of bridges in New York State.  A simple yet lucid explanation of movable bridges in general and bascule bridges in particular is presented.  Special emphasis is laid on the popularity of bascule bridge vis-à-vis other types of movable bridges.  Links to the bascule bridges in New York are included in this site.  Important engineering and design information of the bridge in question can be obtained on following these links.  Also included are links to details of other types of movable bridges in the state of New York.

Bridges of Metropolitan Cleveland: A chapter on movable bridges in an online version of a book on the past and present of bridges in Metropolitan Cleveland is presented here.  Though the main focus is on the bridges in Cleveland, this site will be of interest to anyone interested in the evolution of movable bridges and their suitability under different conditions.  Information on bascule bridges and their evolution over time is explained in this chapter.  Information on different types of bascule bridges is presented.  A link to the table of contents leads to the other chapters of the book. 

History of movable bridges (Britannica): A brief yet educative history of movable bridges from perhaps the most trusted source on the internet: Britannica.com.  The article traces the history of movable bridges from their use to regulate entry and defend castles to their present use to facilitate the flow of both road and water borne traffic.  Links to more articles on swing and bascule bridges are included.

Operation of bascule bridges: This site, maintained by the Multnomach county, describes the operation of different types movable bridges, some of which are bascule bridges.  Links to operation of each type of bascule bridge lead a detailed explanation of the bridge operation with supporting photos.  Links to photos, history and details of two bascule bridges- Morrison and Burnside are included.

Pictures of Bascule bridges from Hardesty and Hanover: An engineering consultancy firm, Hardesty and Hanover maintains this site.  Several pictures of bascule bridges can be seen here. Locations and names of the bridges are included with the pictures.  Links to important information about the firm are present.

Florida East Coast Railway’s Strauss Trunnion Bascule Bridge: This technical report is an excellent template for a person interested in writing a report on the history, modeling and design of a bridge.  Beginning with the history and location of the bridge the report explains the design and dimensions of the bridge.  Links to photographs of different parts of the bridge are included.  A list of suggested references are also included in the end.

Bridges of Wayne county: Details about the cost, dimensions, staffing and operation of the bridges in Wayne county are presented here.  Many of the bridges are bascule bridges.  Pictures of each bridge are included.

World Heritage Bridges: The history of bridges is explored in this online book.  The conception of bridges from the most primitive bridges to the modern bridges of today is studied.  A section is devoted to movable bridges, where the history of bascule bridges is studied.  The evolution of the modern bascule bridge from the drawbridge across the moat in the medieval ages is traced.

Bascule bridges in Seattle: Information about the bridges in Seattle is presented here.  Interesting facts about the Seattle bridges including those about bascule bridges are mentioned.  A link leads to information on the progress of major bridge projects.  Links to information about each bridge are also available.

Testing of segmental casting attachments of bascule bridges: Failure of friction bolts in segmental castings of bascule bridges causes dangerous operating conditions.  This technical paper describes the nondestructive testing of the segmental castings to pinpoint the cause.  The experimentation technique is explained in detail and the results are analyzed.  There are several links to data, graphs and pictures related to the test.

Design of Woodrow Wilson Bridge: Capacity problems of the Woodrow Wilson bascule bridge and attempts to rectify them are studied here.  Several alternatives are explored, and the best one is chosen-building a new 12 lane bridge.  The many steps in the decision making process are enumerated here.  The structural problems associated with the bridge are explained.  The frequency of openings required for maritime traffic is studied.  There are several links to newspaper and journal articles related to the project.

 Alameda County Drawbridges: This site profiles the drawbridges of Alameda county, all but one of which are bascule bridges.  Links to each bridge offer information on location, history, dimensions, maintenance, statistics etc.  On clicking ‘virtual tour’ icon we are led to several links to pictures of each bridge.  This site offers very good pictures of important parts of the bascule bridge like the machinery room, hydraulic brake, live load trunnion, reduction gearbox etc.  Also included are pictures of the opening and approach of the bridges.

Bridge builder online: This site features two interesting articles one bascule bridge.  The first one describes how new road construction and raising the bridge height by 5 feet reduced the number of raisings from 5000 to 250.  The second one details the design changes effected upon the Dominion Boulevard bascule bridge to ease traffic problems.  There links to several other articles on bridges, industry updates etc.  There is a link to a discussion forum on bridges but it is not yet operational.

Cortland Street Drawbridge: The Cortland Street Drawbridge built by John Ernst Ericson in 1902 was a major landmark in the history of movable bridges.  It was the first trunnion bascule bridge to be completed in the United States.  A few pictures are included.  There is an engineering drawing of the bridge.

 AASHTO Bridge guidelines: AASHTO sets standards, guidelines and provides advice on transportation issues in the United States.  It works with the US department of transportation, the Congress and the transportation departments of each state.  This site contains information pertaining to bridges.  There is link where the reader can order the Bridge Load Resistance and Factor Design book, which sets the specifications for bridges.  There are also links to recent developments and agenda items.

Seismic Retrofit projects: Imbsen & associates is involved in the Seismic retrofitting of bridges.  The Third Street Bascule Bridge in San Francisco is one of the projects it is involved.  Information on this project (including several others) is presented in this site. Although Seismic problems are associated with all types of bridges and are not peculiar to bascule bridges, this site gives us valuable information on another possible cause of failure in bascule bridges.

Award winning Casco Bay Bridge:This site features an article on the Casco Bay Bascule Bridge which was presented the Bridge Prize award for its innovation, aesthetic appeal and uniqueness.  Beginning with the history of the bridge the article goes on to describe the design, the unique features, foundation and structure, pier protection, electrical and mechanical control systems, and aesthetic features of the bridge.  The article pinpoints the features of the bridge which make it award winning.

Remote global monitoring of Michigan Street Bascule Bridge: The discovery of cracks in the girder of the aging bascule bridge resulted in the installation of remote global monitoring system for the bridge.  The technical report describing the background, installation and maintenance of this system is presented here.  Also described are the remedial measures taken upon the discovery of cracks.  There are links to pictures of parts of the bridge.

Temporary bascule bridge: The construction of a temporary bridge to replace the failing old bridge over Intercoastal waterway in Florida is described here.  This site is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning about the speedy execution of bascule projects and reusability of bascule components.  Two pictures are presented-one showing the failing old bridge and the other showing the bascule leaf float procedure.

Le Pont Provencher bascule bridge: This site features information about the Le Pont Provencher bascule bridge in Manitoba, Canada.  There are links to the history, description and photos of the bridge.  This bridge links the French speaking Saint-Boniface to Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba.  The information is presented both in French and English.

Atlantic Beach Bascule Bridge: Details about the Atlantic Beach Bascule Bridge are discussed here.  Though the technical details of the bridge are briefly described, the main emphasis is on the financial and historical aspects of the bridge.  Several pictures of the bridge are presented here.  Links to several newspaper articles about the bridge construction and operation are included.

Historic drawbridges of the Delta: The history of drawbridges in the California Delta is presented here with some pictures.  The article looks at drawbridges from an artistic point of view.  Several bascule bridges are described in the article.  The article also explains the meaning of bascule (A child’s seesaw).

Moveable Bridges of Virginia; This site, which is maintained by the Virignia Transport Research Council (VTRC) provides useful information about movable bridges in the state of Virginia.  The introduction explains the necessity to maintain movable bridges from a historical perspective and steps taken towards this end.  A brief explanation of different types of movable bridges, including bascule bridges is included.  Finally, conclusions of the Historical Structures Task Group (HSTG) are enumerated.  Links to information about the VTRC including staffing, projects and meetings are available.