Duvall Bridge (Laurel, Maryland)

Duvall Bridge is an historic single-lane bridge over the Patuxent River near Laurel, Maryland.

Duvall Bridge
Coordinates39.045003°N 76.788812°W / 39.045003; -76.788812[1]
CarriesLago road, (former) Telegraph Road
CrossesPatuxent River
OwnerUnited States Department of the Interior
Heritage statusHistoric American Engineering Record,[1]
Maryland Historical Trust[2]
Characteristics
DesignPratt truss[1]
MaterialSteel[1]
History
Constructed byunknown[1]
Construction end1907
Closed1977
Location

A bridge has been located on this site since the mid-18th century although the current bridge is estimated to have been constructed circa 1907.[2] The first bridge was constructed to serve the mill at the 450-acre plantation of Dr. Charles Duvall "Goodwood" renamed later to "Gladswood". The Duvall family had arrived in Anne Arundel County with arrival of Mareen Duvall in 1650. Mareen Duvall's Middle Plantation is downriver on the same path, now called Davidsonville Road. The Steel bridge was constructed in 1907. The bridge provided water crossing for the main Baltimore-Washington telegraph lines following "telegraph road". In 1936, the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center was created on the land, and the bridge was transferred to the federal government in 1941. A plaque was installed in 1966 by the Duvall society. The bridge was condemned in 1977 after flooding.[2] The bridge was rehabilitated in 2012 and serves as a connection between the central tract and north tract of Patuxent Research Refuge.

Although a common bridge type, Duvall Bridge is one of only two surviving truss bridges in Prince George's County, along with Governor's Bridge. The Duvall bridge has a cross braced deck for wooden planking. The bridge has a plaque noting the Anne Arundel county commissioners of 1907:[1]

  • G.D. Ridout
  • J.H. Wayson
  • J.M. Beard
  • H.D. Cook
  • J.S. Smith
  • W.T. Wells
  • A.A. Shipley

See also

References
  1. Lavoie, Catherine C. (1992). Historic American Engineering Record, Governor's Bridge, HAER NO. MD-85 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: National Park Service, Department of the Interior. pp. 1, 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  2. Maryland Historical Trust Property Number PG-64-2 (PDF), Maryland Inventory of Historic Bridges, retrieved 5 January 2013
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