Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge

About

The Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge is a vertical-lift bridge that spans the James River between Jordan's Point in Prince George County and Charles City County near Hopewell, Virginia. The bridge carries vehicle traffic of State Route 106 and State Route 156, and is owned by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). It is named after Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a Governor of Virginia, who lived nearby at Berkeley Plantation. Originally completed in 1966, it was substantially rebuilt following a February 24, 1977, collision by a ship. Repairs took 20 months to complete. The cost of repairs and operation of a temporary passenger shuttle service were $9.7 million. The costs were recovered from the insurer for the shipping company following a lawsuit in U.S. District Court. Working in conjunction with the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, the Benjamin Harrison Bridge and its VDOT staff host a successful breeding program for peregrine falcons on its high towers.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.