Niagara Clifton Bridge

The Niagara Clifton Bridge, also known as the first Falls View Suspension Bridge, was a suspension bridge over the Niagara River between Niagara Falls, New York and Clifton, Ontario. It was designed by Samuel Keefer, with construction starting in 1867. It was officially opened for traffic on January 2, 1869 and was destroyed in a storm on the night of January 9, 1889.[2]

Not to be confused with Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge.
Niagara Clifton Bridge
Print by Currier and Ives of the bridge and American Falls
Coordinates43°05′19″N 79°04′11″W
CrossesNiagara River
Followed by2nd Falls View Bridge
Characteristics
DesignSuspension Bridge with Cable Stays[1]
Total length1,268 ft (386 m)
Width10 ft (3 m) expanded to 17 ft (5 m) in 1887-1888
Height100 ft (30 m)
Longest span1,268 ft (386 m)
History
Construction startWinter 1867-1868
Construction endDecember 29, 1868
Opened1869
CollapsedJanuary 9, 1889
Location

Replacement

Shortly following the collapse of the first Falls View Suspension Bridge, a second bridge of the same design was ordered to be built. Construction began on March 22, 1889 and erection work took only 38 days to complete. It was opened on May 7, only 117 days after the preceding bridge disaster. The second Falls View Suspension Bridge was dismantled in 1898 when construction of the Honeymoon Bridge was complete. The dismantled bridge was moved to Queenston–Lewiston where it was re-erected and became the second Queenston–Lewiston Bridge and remained in service until 1962 when it was replaced with a larger and more modern bridge. The suspension bridge was finally dismantled and sold to a Buffalo, New York firm.[3]

  1. Nicholas Janberg's Structurae
  2. "Bridges Over Niagara Falls". Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  3. "Bridges Over Niagara Falls". Retrieved 2013-05-22.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.