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The Bridges of Baltimore City
Photos by Adam Paul
Far from the Iowa summer in which Robert Kincaid got lost in looking for a bridge to photograph, instead winding up meeting an adulterous romance, there was a young Baltimorean photographer looking about for bridges, and finding varying degrees of success, though no romance in the process...

Though Baltimore's bridges may not carry the bucolic beauty of those in the setting of the famous 1990's novel The Bridges of Madison County, they do carry their own degree of charm, as well as a great deal of history in the process. Some have persisted for many years and still remain in daily use through rehabilitation.  Others have their futures in peril, as they sit abandoned and awaiting their fate.  Still others have vanished, while leaving traces of their existence about to tell of the days when they performed the vital function of getting travellers safely across the valleys of the city.

Here then is a look at some of the more fascinating or beautiful of these bridges, as they exist today...
Survivors
29th Street Bridge from Falls Road
One would certainly have a hard time finding a more beautiful bridge in Baltimore than the 29th Street bridge.  Seen here from Falls Road, this 1930's era bridge offers a gorgeous stone archway.
 29th Street Bridge from Druid Hill
Seen here from Druid Hill, the 29th Street bridge certainly does stand out in the Jones Falls Valley.  Three smaller arches form the West end of the old bridge, one of which is threaded through by an Expressway on-ramp.
Wicomico Street Bridge at WM
Certainly looking out of place amid the urban environment of Baltimore is the Wicomico Street bridge in Mount Winans, spanning the Western Maryland Railroad, now CSX.  This wooden bridge offers a very rural look.
 Wicomico Street Bridge Head On
The deck of the Wicomico Street bridge, now closed to automobile traffic.  Interestingly, one sad streetlight remains to haunt the lonely old wooden bridge.
Baltimore Street Bridge looking West
Imperiled from a weight restriction a decade ago, the Baltimore Street bridge over the Gwynns Falls returned to service in the late 1990's, with its lovely arched forms spanning the stream and the WM.
 Brunswick Street Bridge Map
A vintage survey map led me to wondering the existence of the Brunswick Street Bridge, spanning the Gwynns Falls in Southwest Baltimore.  Attempting to access the bridgeway from the truncation of Brunswick Street below Eagle met with frustration, until...
Brunswick Street Bridge Pillar
...the opening of the Gwynns Falls Trail through Carroll Park in 2003, which (from maps) seemed to intersect the path of the old bridge.  A recent wandering of the trail greeted me with a pleasantly unexpected suprise, as I witnessed this steep stone pier..
 Brunswick Street Bridge Abutment
Butting up against the trail itself is this - the Southern abutment of the bridge, now well overgrown with ivy.
Brunswick Street Base Southern end
Mounting the abutment, one sees the parking lot of a modern industry, which I also recall driving through in search of the old bridge.
 Looking across abutments
Making a 180 degree turn, one can see across the tops of the abutments, which rise some 50 feet above the water below.  Mounted with the iron bridgeway, it certainly had to be an impressive sight from any angle.
Brunswick Abutment Row
Another 3/4 view of the abutments.  The finding of the old abutments makes one curious as to the construction of the bridge, and when it was partially dismantled.
1885 Stone at New Biddle Street Bridge
They certainly did biuld some modern bridges in 1885.  This stone sits at the Eastern end of the rather typical Biddle Street bridge over the Jones Falls Expressway and ex-NC tracks.  The reasoning for this becomes apparent when travelling on the Expressway beneath.  The bridge's abutments are the original stone ones upon which the 1885 structure was situated.
 Fulton Avenue bridge from Monroe Street
Is it or isn't it?  This crossing of Fulton Avenue over Amtrak's Northeast Corridor is listed on State lists as a bridge, though it appears like more of a reinforced culvert, with about 10 feet of fill covering it.  This structure dates from 1873, making it among the oldest in the state.  Thanks to Steve Okonski for the info!
Vincent Street bridge as seen from the Mount Street bridge.
 Another of the 1873 underpasses is this obscure and little used (at least overland) portal to take trains beneath Vincent Street.  In case you have not heard of Vincent Street, it is the ALLEY(!) running between Mount (from where this photo was taken) and Gilmor Streets in West Baltimore.  It seems incredulous to see this sustantial construction used to avoid the interrupted flow of an alley!  Thanks again to Steve Okonski!
 Vincent Street bridge viewed from Above
Just to futher the lazy nature of the Vincent Street bridge, this view looks South on Vincent Street from Laurens Street.  The tall fence visible behind the house on the right is the same fence discernable topping the bridge in the view at left.

In time, I hope to be able to document more of the old bridges of Baltimore, and hopefully make some new fascinating discoveries.  And I'll leave the adultery to Mr. Kincaid.
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