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Angela Boulevard Bridge <br />Historical Context <br />The current Angela Boulevard Bridge is the second bridge to span the St. <br />Joseph River at this location. The present structure was opened to traffic on <br />June 24, 1940. The Angela Bridge is a three -span Arch Melan bridge designed <br />by former City Engineer Willian S. Moore who also designed the present <br />Twyckenham bridge as well as the Ash Road Bridge and the Lexington and <br />McNaughton bridges in Elkhart. Mr. Moore was also the advisory engineer for <br />the Citizens Emergency Relief Committee which reported to the Board of County <br />Commissioners for St. Joseph County. <br />The Angela Bridge was part of what was known as the "inner Belt" for <br />truck traffic who's purpose was to route truck traffic around the business district <br />of South Bend. <br />Forty -five percent of the funding for the second bridge project was through <br />the Public Works Administration. Total contract cost for the bridge was 152 - <br />thousand - dollars; 15- thousand - dollars of that amount was to cover the cost of <br />removing the former span which was constructed about 1907. The former <br />structure was found to be too narrow for automobile and truck traffic. During <br />reconstruction efforts the contract was closed when the structure was found to <br />be too unsafe for reuse. The former bridge was dynamited away then the <br />current structure was constructed. The present structure joined what was <br />partially rebuilt and uses the original abutments of the old span. <br />Three - thousand dynamite charges were used to blow away the spans of <br />the original bridge. The blasting resulted in homes being shaken, which knocked <br />lamps and other articles from tables in the immediate area. <br />During construction of this second bridge, ice buildup in the river also <br />resulted in dynamiting. This time the explosives were used to dislodge ice <br />buildup which not only threatened the new spans, but had already crushed the <br />temporary wooden walkway bridge erected a few feet up steam from the <br />construction site. Further excitement was added when workers believed the <br />natural gas main under the river had been ruptured. <br />JAN 2 ' JIM <br />2000 <br />