1/15
1-hr, 1 pt
2 bridges, 4pts
Total 5pts
@clarkenstein and I were planning a two bridge ride yesterday afternoon. Perfect weather on Thursday and unfortunately work got in the way and we ran out of daylight (at least for me). If timing worked out yesterday, we would have crossed paths with
@Patrick as we were planning the same bridges around the same time of day. 11 days in a row on the saddle and I was ok with an off day.
Tried again to meet up with
@clarkenstein today, but ended up solo.
View attachment 148851
First stop was the Mill Pond Bridge (Bridgepoint Bridge) over Pike Run on Dead Tree Run Road. It is one of the oldest bridges in NJ. Triple arch, single lane, one-way bridge. The original structure is approximately 200-years old. So it's been rehabilitated a few times over the years. A very scenic spot and thankfully it hasn't been demolished and replaced with a modern box.
Historic Arch Bridge in Bridgepoint Somerset County, New Jersey. Visiting this beautiful stone arch bridge within a historic district is like taking a trip back in time.
historicbridges.org
View attachment 148852
View attachment 148865View attachment 148866
From here, headed down towards the Delaware and Raritan canal. Crossed the Griggstown causeway (1890 / 1978 and 2006) and headed north on the towpath, also crossed the bridge over the canal waiting for traffic to pass. But didn't stop for pictures. Passed this little guy drinking from the canal. Stopped and was able to get one decent picture before it ran off into the woods.
View attachment 148867
Continued down to the towpath and made it to bridge #2. This bridge carries six mile run under the delaware and raritan canal. The original structure was built when the canal was built in the 1830s and was expanded when canal road was build. I never realized how much the section under the canal was deeper than the section under the road. I love the fact the canal is still here. I grew up near the remains of the Morris Canal in Warren County and have driven down Erie Blvd in Syracuse (filled in portions of the Erie Canal). So nice to have the D&R Canal in the neighborhood. Sure it can boring to ride, but nice to have it there. When the canal was built it was an engineering marvel. It survives today because it was repurposed as a drinking water supply for central new jersey and it is now a water supply and linear park through the heart of new jersey. The folks who designed and built this bridge and the canal would be proud it is still in use today. I've had the opportunity work on some of the old infrastructure in the region. What our forefathers left us is just fantastic. Shame we don't always design to leave the same legacy.
Historic Arch Bridge in Rural Hunterdon County, New Jersey. This is a very old canal-related stone arch bridge and aqueduct that has been widened in an unusual way.
historicbridges.org
View attachment 148853View attachment 148868
From there passed over the blackwells mills causeway and headed home.
www.strava.com
