Bridgeport Lamp Chimney Company Bowstring Concrete Arch Bridge, Concrete arch footbridge in Brushy Fork, US
The Bridgeport Lamp Chimney Company Bowstring Concrete Arch Bridge is a concrete footbridge over Brushy Fork, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The arch rises in a smooth curve from one bank to the other, holding the deck below it in tension like a drawn bow.
The bridge is linked to the Bridgeport Lamp Chimney Company, a local manufacturer that was active in the area in the early 20th century. It was built at a time when concrete was replacing older materials for small crossings, and it still carries the shape of that era's engineering approach.
The bridge takes its name from a lamp chimney company that once shaped daily life in the area. Walking over it today, you can see the weathered concrete up close and hear the water of Brushy Fork below.
The bridge is accessible on foot as part of a footpath along Brushy Fork, with no special equipment needed to visit. Wearing comfortable shoes is enough, as the path is easy to walk and the structure is viewable at close range.
In a bowstring arch, the arch and the deck are tied together by tension members that act like the string of a bow, so the bridge does not push outward against its supports. This made the design practical for sites where the ground could not absorb large sideways forces, which may explain its use here over a small creek.
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