Notes:

• At former location of 1818 Dryburgh Abbey - Dryburgh and St. Boswells, Scotland, United Kingdom.
• Near Mertoun Estate - Mertoun, Scotland, United Kingdom.
• Replaced by 1911 Dryburgh Abbey - Dryburgh and St. Boswells, Scotland, United Kingdom.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20016083

Notes:

• The location of this bridge was originally known as "Folsom Landing" and later became known as "Riverside." In 1886 the name was changed to "Riparius" to avoid confusion with another New York "Riverside" location. The suspension bridge is sometimes referenced by each of these names. To make matters even more confusing, the bridge was known as the "Fulsom Landing" bridge (instead of Folsom).
• Removed at some point after 1919.
• Near 1871 (suspension bridge) - Washburn's Eddy, New York, USA.

Notes:

• Damaged by flood, 1936 and removed soon after.
• Near 1878 Upper (Red) - Turners Falls, Montague, Massachusetts, USA.

Notes:

• Coordinates are approximate location of the bridge based on the description in HARPER noting the bridge crossed the railway at the estate of a Colonel Sandeman at Ravenscraig which is the location of the present day (2020) Ravenscraig Gardens in Dundee.

External Links:

• Ravenscraig | Harper Bridges

Notes:

• Connected Trinity Cemetery across Broadway. Demolished 1911. Appears to have been wide enough to handle vehicles.
• Eric K. Washington contacted me in 2011 wondering if the Trinity Cemetery bridge was the first suspension bridge constructed in New York City. While it seems unlikely that New York City (even just Manhattan) did not have, at least, other minor suspension bridges constructed before 1872, I have never encountered mention of one.

Notes:

• Replaced 1871 Boatford - Langholm, Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Notes:

• Traffic restricted to foot traffic, 1931. Closed, 1933, after the bridge sagged significantly.
• From HWCO: "The towers are thirty-eight feet high, and each consists of four columns, of Phoenix column iron. The cables are of steel wire and each is composed of 343 strands, the whole cable having a diameter of seven inches. The masonry is constructed of Dayton stone, and is of a very substantial character... The wire and iron work was done in the summer of 1873 under the superintendence of Roebling & Sons, of Trenton, N. J. The bridge is stayed by strong wire cables and stiffened by an iron truss. The whole cost was $43,900."

Notes:

• See 1868 Calloway's Ford (Whitewater, Harrison's) - Elizabethtown vicinity, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA.

Notes:

• In use until 1910, possibly longer. Replacement opened 1925.

Notes:

• GAP: Destroyed by flood 1878. Rebuilt 1879 by Jeremiah Drummey. Damaged by neglect, fire.
• Replaced by 1897 Macandrew - Bannockburn, New Zealand.

Notes:

• Replaced 1845 Canet - Canet and Le Pouget, Hérault, France.
• Replaced by Canet - Canet and Le Pouget, Hérault, France.

External Links:

• Art-et-Histoire - Pont de Canet - 1874

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20079198

Notes:

• Originally built with iron chains, modified to steel wire cables, 1935.

External Links:

• 保山市惠通桥 (Huitong Bridge, Baoshan City) - china-qiao.com

External Links:

• Google Maps - Fuerte de Lota. Image of a suriving bridge tower, December 2022.

Notes:

• GAP: Destroyed by flood 1878.
• Replaced by 1881 Clyde - Clyde, New Zealand.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20021603

External Links:

• Art-et-Histoire - Pont de Saint Nazaire-en-royans - 1875

Notes:

• This may be the shortest span suspension bridge ever constructed.

Notes:

• A rotary club plaque at the bridge reads, "To connect his properties, Newton Short built this swinging bridge without sides about 1875. Sides were added after 1902. The bridge was given to the City of Arroyo Grande on July 14, 1911,... Due to severe storm damage, the bridge was rebuilt in 1995."

Notes:

• The black and white photo shows the same bridge at its original location on Bentz Street (then Mill Alley). It was later moved to Baker Park, and then moved again (in 1927, 1928, or 1930 according to various sources) to its present location, another location in Baker Park.
• Local legend states this bridge was used by Stonewall Jackson and his troops when they entered Frederick on September 10, 1862.
• Closed March, 2008 due to safety concerns. Eventually reopened.
• Near 2006 William O. Lee (Carroll Creek Park) - Frederick, Maryland, USA.

External Links:

• Baker Park - Maryland Historic District. States bridge was built in 1875.
• Structurae - Structure ID 20011117

Notes:

• GAP: Collapsed just before opening due to anchor plate failure, rebuilt. Rebuilt again 1925-1926. Towers replaced 1963-1964.

External Links:

• Art-et-Histoire - Pont de Laissey - 1876

Notes:

• 1930: Destroyed by flood.
• Replaced 1850 Lamagistère - Lamagistère, Tarn-et-Garonne, France.
• Replaced by 1933 Lamagistère - Lamagistère, Tarn-et-Garonne, France.

External Links:

• Art-et-Histoire.com - Pont de La Magistère - 1876

Notes:

• Replaced after 1913 flood damage.

Notes:

• A new suspension bridge was installed on the same piers in the 2020-2021 time frame.
• Later at same location 2021 Waitakere/Nile River - Charleston, New Zealand.

External Links:

• The Nile River suspension bridge and the Little Nile ferry steamer,Charleston. | West Coast New Zealand History

Notes:

• AAJ: Rebuilt, 1884, 1905.

Notes:

• Partial floor collapse requiring extensive repairs, December 24, 1903. Repaired, 1904. Demolished 1927.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20006126

Notes:

• Located on the road connecting Monroe to Oxford, until 1919 when the Stevenson Dam was built.
• May have been significantly widened, c. 1910.

Notes:

• Piers are still present (in 2020) next to the current Aude River crossing at this location.

Notes:

• This bridge was part of the Rockport lumber mill (Mendocino County). The bridge stretched over ocean to a large rock in the bay.
• Jakkula cites two sources describing the cables as steel.
• Don Sayenga transcribed one of Jakkula's references, The Iron Age Volume XX , No. 3 (August 2, 1877) Page 1: "A Steel Wire Suspension Bridge In California"

  The Pacific Bridge Company are building in Mendocino county, California at Cottoneva, a suspension bridge which is described as follows "The distance from center to center of the saddles on the towers is 270 feet. The deflection or fall of the cable is 23 feet 6 inches. The cables are built in the same manner as those of the Clifton bridge at Niagara. The steel wire is about No. 11 Birmingham gauge, and is protected against rust by immersing in a bath which it a fine coat of zinc. There are eleven wires in each strand, seven strands in each rope, and seven ropes in each cable. The ropes are not twisted together to form the cable but gathered up every six feet by the suspender bands. Each rope is warranted to bear a strain of 60 tons. It is made fast to an independent anchor bar, 1 by 3 inches in diameter, and forming links 18 feet long, until connection is made with the anchors. The anchors are of cast iron, 3-1/2 by 3 feet in surface, weigh 1000 pounds each, and are placed 14 feet below the surface of the rock. Great care was taken in securing the anchors in place by means of cross I beams which run under the rock on either side. The lower part of each pit was enlarged to so as to form a hemispherical chamber, and the rock work, set in Portland cement, which is built upon the anchor, is so constructed that the upward strain is transmitted to the sides. The towers are of red wood. There are four posts 10 x 10 inches and two 10 x 12 inches, giving an effective area of 640 inches to withstand the strain of the cables on the tower. The wooden truss to prevent vertical vibration is 8 feet high and of the Howe truss pattern. The 270 feet of the bridge is divided into 45 pannels. The longest suspenders, 44 in number are of 7/8 inch steel wire, the 42 shorter ones are of 1-1/8 inch solid iron. The estimated dead load of the bridge is 1000 pounds per linear foot; live load, one ton per linear foot; in all, one and one half tons, or one fifth of actual breaking load. The bridge will be completed in about 30 days and promises to be a structure which the builders may well be proud of."

  Don writes: "[In] Jakkula's last citation, he is saying that this is factory-made wire rope... The construction of the wire rope (7 by 11) used in the main cables is not common for the USA as of 1877; in fact it is extremely uncommon. The wire ropes used at Clifton/Niagara were made in England -- it wouldn't surprise me if these were made in England too."

Notes:

• 2022-2023: Damaged during 2022 monsoon season. Reopened October 2023.

External Links:

• Jhulaghat - Wikipedia

Notes:

• Provided access to Mascot Mine. Collapsed, 1921.

Notes:

• Replaced 1855 Minneapolis (St. Anthony's Falls) - Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
• Later at same location 1990 Hennepin Avenue (Father Louis Hennepin) - Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20086713

Notes:

• Damaged by flood, June 1, 1889. Rebuilt, but unclear if rebuilt as a suspension bridge. May have been rebuilt as a truss bridge.
• Near 1865 Market Street - Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA.

Notes:

• 1988-1989: Restoration project completed
• 2022, August-September: Bridge closed for repairs. Reopened.
• Similar to 1862 (footbridge) - Greystead, England, United Kingdom.

External Links:

• National Trust Heritage Records - Suspension Bridge, River Kent, New Sedgwick Gunpowder Works, Low Park Woods, Sizergh

Notes:

• Carried a narrow gauge rail line over several tracks at the Crewe Locomotive Works. Used as a footbridge, 1929-1939.

Notes:

• Near 1872 Lower (White) - Turners Falls, Montague, Massachusetts, USA.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20052003

External Links:

• Azuqueca: SOS Save "The Hanging Bridge". Blog devoted to saving the bridge. Includes many photos.
• Maneti Lugares qUe Disfrutar: Puente Colgante Rio Henares Azuqueca De Henares (Guadalajara)

Notes:

• 2020, November: Highland Council likely to close bridge if funding for urgent repairs cannot be raised.
• 2021, July: Reopened after interim repairs completed. Future major refurbishment expected.
• Companion to 1881 Greig Street (Wobbly) - Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Annotated Citations:

• Glen, Louise. “Closure Fears for Iconic Inverness Bridge Facing Huge Repair Bill.” Inverness Courier, 21 Apr. 2021, www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/closure-fears-for-iconic-inverness-bridge-facing-huge-repair-235713/.
  

  "Fears have been raised that decades of under investment in an iconic city bridge could see it closed permanently. Members of Ballifeary Community Council believe the cost of fixing and upgrading the Infirmary Bridge to bring it up to modern standards may be more than £1 million..."

• Duncan, Ian. "The future of Infirmary Bridge secured into the 2040s as Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee today agrees up to £550,000 in funding for repairs." Inverness Courier, 05 May 2021, www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/the-future-of-infirmary-bridge-secured-into-the-2040s-237340/.
  

  "Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee agreed today to include up to £550,000 for repairs for Infirmary Bridge… 'It will be 2022 before the repairs are completed, but once done the bridge's life will be extended for a further 20 to 25 years.'"

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20005174

Notes:

• The side spans are supported solely by inclined stays, not suspenders from the main cables.
• Closed to all traffic on July 15, 2004 due to damage to the deck, possibly caused by an overloaded truck. Repaired and reopened.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20003008

Notes:

• Restored as a pedestrian-only bridge, 1952. Refurbished, 2009.
• Near 1882 Alexandra - Alexandra, New Zealand.

External Links:

• Monymusk | Harper Bridges

Notes:

• 1931: Relocated from original location at Tarvastu Manor. Coordinates provided here represent the new location of the bridge.
• 1995: Reconstructed.

Notes:

• 2015, December: Destroyed by flooding during Storm Frank.
• Replaced by Birkhall - Birkhall, Ballater, Scotland, United Kingdom.

External Links:

• Birkhall | Harper Bridges

Notes:

• Completed c. 1880. Douglas Harper writes: "The original bridge was built by Harper & Co, Aberdeen, around 1880 and its timber pylons were replaced with cast iron ones. In 1979 when overloaded during a raft race a bank stay cable failed and a major rebuild was undertaken by the local authority. This version was similar to its predecessor but was repalced in 2005 by a cable stayed bridge."
• Replaced by 1980 Shakin - Burnhervie, Inverurie vicinity, Scotland, United Kingdom.

External Links:

• Burnhervie | Harper Bridges

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20024851

Notes:

• Damaged during flood, 1890. Repaired, 1891.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20077610

Notes:

• Appears to now be used solely as a bungee-jumping platform.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20011106

Notes:

• Eckhard Bernstorff notes: "Suspended with connections from 'chains' to towers, gravity anchored in the ground (backstays), but 'hangers' not adjustable (like truss)."

Notes:

• Replaced by a large single-span truss bridge that sits on the suspension bridge piers.
• Replaced 1875 (suspension bridge) - Clyde, New Zealand.

Notes:

• Replaced by 1894 Cromdale - Cromdale, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Notes:

• Companion to 1879 Infirmary - Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom.
• Near 1855 Ness - Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom. In some photos, the two bridges are visible within a few hundred yards of each other.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20005173

External Links:

• El puente colgante de Jánovas: la última reliquia en pie de la ingeniería del siglo XIX

Notes:

• Replaced 1840 Vicq-sur-Gartempe - Vicq-sur-Gartempe and Champagne, Vienne, France.
• Replaced by 1931 Vicq-sur-Gartempe - Vicq-sur-Gartempe, Vienne, France.

Notes:

• Bypassed, 1958, at which point the bridge deck and cables were removed leaving only the towers.
• Near 1879 Shaky (Manuherikia) - Alexandra, New Zealand.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20024852

External Links:

• Fitch Family History and Genealogy. Although this bridge is known by a variety of names (and misspellings), this Fitch family site states Daniel Hollenbeck Fitch contributed $10,000 to the construction of the bridge and refer to it as "Fitch's Bridge".

Notes:

• In the June 18, 1970 edition of the Daily Tribune newspaper (Great Bend, Kansas) an article titled "Last Suspension Bridge to Fall" describes this bridge: "The suspension bridge appears to be going the way of the old covered bridge in Kansas. At least, the particular type of suspension span represented by Osage County Bridge No. 18 may be gone when this structure is replaced within two years. L.D. Pierce, Osage County engineer, said he believes this 'homemade' suspension bridge probably is the last of its kind in this state. He said it was built in 1882 from a pencil-drawn plan that probably was prepared by asurveyor or a millwright. He said it was constructed with materials that could be found in any hardware store and lumber yard. For example, cables are No. 9 gauge wire, bound together. Pierce said at one time there were five or six of these bridges in Osage County. The 100-foot span over Long Creek has been closed to traffic since 1967."
• See Long Creek - Melvern, Kansas, USA.

Notes:

• Became longest suspension bridge by eclipsing 1869 Clifton (Niagara-Clifton, Falls View, First Falls View) - Niagara Falls, New York, USA and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
• Eclipsed by new longest suspension bridge 1903 Williamsburg - New York and Brooklyn, New York, USA.
• Next to 1909 Manhattan - New York and Brooklyn, New York, USA.
• Near 1903 Williamsburg - New York and Brooklyn, New York, USA.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20000011

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20022318

Notes:

• KJ20030410: "[The] span collapsed in 1888: it turned out the steel cables were not all steel, they had a core of hemp, according to the history 'Skowhegan on the Kennebec'."
• Replaced by 1888 Swinging - Skowhegan, Maine, USA.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20070577

Notes:

• 1940: Destroyed during WWII.
• Later at same location 1951 Yenne - Yenne, Savoie and Ain, France.

Notes:

• AAJ: Repaired by William Hildenbrand a few years after completion.
• Near 1852 Charleston (Lovell Street) - Charleston, West Virginia, USA.

Notes:

• Next to 1834 Lamothe - Lamothe and Brioude, Haute-Loire, France. In 1866, a flood caused a major change in the course of the Allier River such that the main channel no longer flowed under the older bridge. The newer bridge crossed the main channel of the Allier just slightly east of the older bridge.

External Links:

• Art-et-Histoire - Pont de Lamothe - 1884
• Structurae - Structure ID 20022428

Notes:

• 1896: Reconstructed by Hermann Laub

Notes:

• Next to 1860 Allegheny River (Sixth Street, St. Clair) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
• Replaced by 1926 Andy Warhol (Seventh Street) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

External Links:

• Bridgehunter.com | 7th Street Bridge

Notes:

• Coordinates provided are for the 1950 replacement bridge which is assumed to be the approximate location of the earlier bridge.
• Replaced by 1950 Ospina Perez - Girardot, Colombia.

Notes:

• Replaced 1842 Tonnay-Charente - Tonnay-Charente, Charente-Maritime, France.
• Replaced by 1934 Tonnay-Charente - Tonnay-Charente, Charente-Maritime, France.

External Links:

• Wikipedia - Pont suspendu de Tonnay-Charente

Notes:

• William Craig describes the bridge, "A wood and angle iron deck supported from two pairs of wire cables and rod suspenders. The railings are of light woven wire. Pylons with ornamental heads are of lattice gider construction on concrete bases five miles west of Ballater, Scotland."
• Was already derelict before December 2015 flooding (Storm Frank) that severely damaged several River Dee bridges. Dave Cooper writes in early 2016: "The bridge's southern tower and its base are gone. The river bank has eroded back to within feet of the grade one listed Abergeldie Castle. Seat of Baron Abergeldie."

External Links:

• The Happy Pontist: Scottish Bridges: 57. Abergeldie Castle Bridge (after the flood)

Notes:

• Refurbished, 1989.
• John Gardner writes that William Bell was the village blacksmith and that the bridge once had an unusual mid-span support pillar. John writes: "It is not known when [the pillar] was dismantled, but the bottom section (you can see the dividing flange in the linked picture) can still be seen in normal water conditions."
• John Gardner later added: "[the bridge] was badly damaged by floods on December 14th 1936. It was reconstructed with the span a little higher, which was when the supporting pillar was removed."

Notes:

• GAP: Collapsed late 20th century.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20024853

Notes:

• Wrecked by flood, July 2017. Dismantled, October 2017

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20024854

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20052005

Notes:

• HARPER: Some remnants of the bridge still present, 2006.

External Links:

• Craighall | Harper Bridges

Notes:

• Damaged by windstorm 1950.

Notes:

• 1963: Replaced by Puente Juan de la Cruz Posada
• 2018: Former location of both bridges completely inundated behind the Pescadero-Ituango dam.

External Links:

• La Historia del Antiguo Puente Colgante de Pescadero Ituango Rio Cauca Construido en el año de 1886 por el Ingeniero Jose Maria Villa

External Links:

• Offord | Harper Bridges

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20002307

Notes:

• 2019, April: Closed to vehicular traffic due to safety concerns after an inspection found fractures in the cast iron casings around the bridge pedestals. Some repair work followed, but was not fully funded or finished (as of mid-2020)
• 2020, August: Fractures found to have worsened during recent heatwave. Bridge is completely closed to all pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Pedestrian walkways under the bridge and all river traffic under the bridge are also prohibited (implying risk of collapse).
• 2020, December: Bridge may reopen to pedestrians and cyclists if deemed safe by maintenance contractor, Mott MacDonald.
• 2021, January: Plan discussed to "thread" a temporary truss along the length of the deck to permit traffic while the suspension bridge undergoes repairs.
• 2021, March: Feasibility study on "double-decker" temporary truss plan determines it is feasible, possibly opening to pedestrian and vehicular traffic by mid-2022.
• 2021, July: Reopened for pedestrian and bicycle use.
• Replaced 1827 Hammersmith - London, England, United Kingdom.

External Links:

• ENR - Engineers Ponder Solutions for Damaged London Bridge. February 22, 2021 Engineering News-Record article discusses proposal to thread a temporary truss between the towers to allow traffic while the larger suspension bridge repairs are completed. Recaps the issue: "Cracks have been found in the cast-iron pedestals that support suspension cable saddles at the abutments. Engineers suspect that roller bearings between the saddles and pedestals seized up at least 30 years ago…"
• Hammersmith Bridge | Temporary ‘double-decker’ proposal deemed technically feasible - New Civil Engineer. March 22, 2021
• The Happy Pontist: London Bridges: 33. Hammersmith Bridge
• Structurae - Structure ID 20008013

External Links:

• Nairn | Harper Bridges

Notes:

• Bypassed, 1974.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20024723

Notes:

• Dismantled 1983. One tower used in extant (2007) Workers Memorial Tower at Reading, PA.
• The coordinates provided are for the original location of the bridge. The memorial is located at N 40.3245 W 75.9263.

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20011000

External Links:

• Structurae - Structure ID 20024778

Notes:

• Replaced 1847 Évieu - Évieu, Ain and Les Avenières Veyrins-Thuellin, Isère, France.

External Links:

• Crathorne | Harper Bridges

Notes:

• See 1921 (footbridge) - Oregon City and West Linn, Oregon, USA.