January 2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Angela Boulevard Bridge Historical Context The current Angela Boulevard Bridge is the second bridge to span the St. Joseph River at this location. The present structure was opened to traffic on June 24, 1940. The Angela Bridge is a three -span Arch Melan bridge designed by former City Engineer Willian S. Moore who also designed the present Twyckenham bridge as well as the Ash Road Bridge and the Lexington and McNaughton bridges in Elkhart. Mr. Moore was also the advisory engineer for the Citizens Emergency Relief Committee which reported to the Board of County Commissioners for St. Joseph County. The Angela Bridge was part of what was known as the "inner Belt" for truck traffic who's purpose was to route truck traffic around the business district of South Bend. Forty-five percent of the funding for the second bridge project was through the Public Works Administration. Total contract cost for the bridge was 152 - thousand -dollars; 15 -thousand -dollars of that amount was to cover the cost of removing the former span which was constructed about 1907. The former structure was found to be too narrow for automobile and truck traffic. During reconstruction efforts the contract was closed when the structure was found to be too unsafe for reuse. The former bridge was dynamited away then the current structure was constructed. The present structure joined what was partially rebuilt and uses the original abutments of the old span. Three -thousand dynamite charges were used to blow away the spans of the original bridge. The blasting resulted in homes being shaken, which knocked lamps and other articles from tables in the immediate area. During construction of this second bridge, ice buildup in the river also resulted in dynamiting. This time the explosives were used to dislodge ice buildup which not only threatened the new spans, but had already crushed the temporary wooden walkway bridge erected a few feet up steam from the construction site. Further excitement was added when workers believed the natural gas main under the river had been ruptured.