The Antioch Bridge (officially the Senator John A. Nejedly Bridge) is an automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian bridge that crosses the San Joaquin River linking Antioch, California with Sherman Island in southern Sacramento County, California, near the city of Isleton, California in the United States. Named after California State Senator John A. Nejedly, the bridge is signed as part of State Route 160. Unlike other toll bridges in California, the Antioch bridge has only a single lane of traffic for each direction.
Video Antioch Bridge
History
The current bridge was completed and opened to traffic in December 1978. It is 1.8 miles (2.9 km) long.
1926 toll bridge
The original structure was completed in 1926 by the American Toll Bridge Company (Aven Hanford and Oscar Klatt), who went on to build the original span of the Carquinez Bridge. The bridge was opened on 1 January 1926 as a connecting link on the coast-to-coast Victory Highway. Hanford and Klatt, officials with the Rodeo-Vallejo Ferry Company, had organized the American Toll Bridge Company in 1923, which built the bridge at a cost of greater than US$2,000,000 (equivalent to $28,730,000 in 2017).
The Delta Bridge corporation had formed in December 1922, but did not complete a bridge at Antioch. Delta Bridge had received a franchise to build in June 1923.
The 1926 bridge featured two spans each 270 feet (82 m) long which provided a clearance of 70 feet (21 m) below when opened. The original lift span bridge was plagued with problems throughout its lifetime. Heavy traffic could cross it at no more than 15 miles per hour (24 km/h), and its narrow shipping channel led to collisions with freighters in 1958, 1963 and 1970.
State purchase
In 1937, Assemblyman Earl D. Desmond urged the California Toll Bridge Authority to acquire the Antioch Bridge. Desmond believed that by purchasing the bridge, tolls could be eliminated, which would spur economic growth. Director Frank W. Clark negotiated with the American Toll Bridge Company, and the state of California acquired ownership of both the Antioch and Carquinez Bridges at a cost of US$5,943,000 (equivalent to $103,810,000 in 2017) on September 16, 1940. Tolls were reduced immediately and further reduced in 1942.
Marine traffic collisions
The narrow ship channel afforded by the raised span led to marine traffic colliding with the bridge in 1958 (rammed by Kaimana), 1963 (rammed by Pasadena) and 1970 (rammed by Washington Bear).
The 1970 collision spurred efforts to build a replacement bridge. In that incident, the lift span was stuck in the raised position. The bridge tender could not leave the bridge and remained in the control house for 20 hours. Local firemen eventually made their way to him and brought him out. The bridge was closed for repairs for 5 months.
1978 replacement bridge
Sen. Nejedly authored Senate Bill 25, which later became Chapter 765 of the California Statutes of 1972, authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to fund the construction of a replacement to the existing bridge. The bill cited the recent extended disruptions in bridge service from marine traffic damage as well as flooding of the approaches.
The high-level bridge opened in December 1978. Shortly before completion, the replacement bridge was named to honor Sen. Nejedly.
Maps Antioch Bridge
Tolls
Crossing the original 1926 bridge required a toll, but tolls were removed soon after the state bought the bridge in 1940. Under the ownership of the American Toll Bridge company, in 1940, tolls were US$0.45 (equivalent to $7.86 in 2017) per car plus US$0.05 (equivalent to $0.87 in 2017) per passenger. After the state took ownership, tolls were immediately reduced to US$0.30 (equivalent to $5.24 in 2017) per car (up to four passengers). In 1942, tolls were further reduced to US$0.25 (equivalent to $3.74 in 2017). Tolls were reinstated in 1978 with the completion of the new span.
Tolls are only collected from northbound traffic at the toll plaza on the south side of the bridge. Since July 2010, the toll rate for passenger cars is $5. During peak traffic hours, carpool vehicles carrying two or more people or motorcycles pay a discounted toll of $2.50. For vehicles with more than two axles, the toll rate is $5 per axle. Drivers may either pay by cash or use the FasTrak electronic toll collection device. There are currently three booths at the toll plaza, with the far left booth dedicated to FasTrak users only; the other two booths accept both cash and FasTrak.
Animal incidents
In 1965, three circus lions escaped from a truck passing over the Antioch Bridge. Two were quickly recaptured, but one drowned after falling into the river.
Humphrey the Whale was stranded near the Antioch Bridge in 1985.
References
Sources
External links
- FasTrak - Antioch Bridge
- Live Toll Prices for Antioch Bridge
- Antioch Bridge (1926) at Structurae
- Antioch Bridge (1978) at Structurae
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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