Mayo Bridge

Mayo's Bridge (also known as Richmond's 14th St. Bridge) is located in Richmond, Virginia.[1] A four lane structure, it transports U.S. Route 360 across the James River. Signage identifies the bridge as "Mayo's Bridge."

Mayo's Bridge
Mayo's Bridge ca. 1917
Coordinates37°31′45″N 77°26′03″W
Carries US 360
CrossesJames River
LocaleRichmond, Virginia
Official nameMayo's Bridge
Other name(s)14th. St. Bridge; Mayo's Bridge
Maintained byRichmond Dept. of Public Works
Characteristics
Total length1,374 feet
History
Opened1913
Statistics
Tollnone
Location

The bridge is actually in two sections, separated near the middle by Mayo's Island. The total length is 1,374 feet (north and south sections combined). The current structure was built in 1913,[1] and accommodated heavy streetcar traffic. It is Richmond's oldest highway bridge across the James River.

Prior to the construction of Mayo's Bridge, travelers had to utilize Coutts' Ferry, run by Patrick Coutts until his death in 1776 and later by his brother Rev. William Coutts until his death in 1787.[2] The ferry landing was at a place called the "Sandy Bar" at the end of 18th Street. The ferry was kept up for many years after the Mayo's bridge was built as the 6.25¢ toll was impressive and the bridge was often broken, thus necessitating the ferry.[3] Patrick Coutts was something of a legend in old Richmond. This stemmed from the story that he had crossed the river not by ferry or bridge, but by sturgeon.[4]

Many people petitioned the Virginia Assembly for the right to build a bridge, but none were successful in receiving permission. Around the mid 1780s, John Mayo, son of William Mayo (the man who had layed out the plan for Richmond), was given the opportunity to build a toll bridge but died soon after. His son, John Mayo Jr., inherited his estate and finally completed the first bridge across the James in 1788. This bridge was very rudimentary and consisted of “large logs, raft-like, spiked to the rocks, with rough floor laid on the logs” on the north side of Mayo's Island and of a pontoon bridge that had planks laid on top of a series of boats on the south side.[5] This bridge was destroyed the winter after its completion by ice floes dragging the bridge away. It was destroyed and subsequently rebuilt in 1814, 1816, 1823, 1865, 1870, 1877, 1882, and 1899.

It was built on the site of the city's first bridge completed in 1788 by John Mayo Jr., the grandson of the man who first laid out Richmond's grid pattern. During the American Civil War the bridge was burned by retreating Confederate soldiers on April 8, 1865.[6]

In 1882, the a portion of the bridge collapsed with nine people on it, however, no one was killed or badly hurt in the incident.[6]

Rising just 30 feet above the water line, Mayo's Bridge is currently Richmond's only bridge subject to flooding. Large floodgates in Richmond's Flood wall protect the surrounding areas on each side during James River flooding. The bridge's closeness to the river surface has made the sidewalks on either side of it popular fishing locations.

The burnt-out Mayo Bridge among the ruined city of Richmond at the end of the Civil War.

References
  1. "106-year-old Mayo Bridge is safe, Richmond officials say". WTVR.com. 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  2. Lohrenz, Otto. "The Reverend William Coutts: Tory or Whig". varsitytutors.com. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  3. Mordecai, Samuel (1860). Richmond In By-Gone Days. Richmond, Va.: West & Johnston. p. 309.
  4. Mordecai, Samuel (1860). Richmond In By-Gone Days. Richmond, Va.: West & Johnston. p. 310.
  5. Maggy, Matthew. "Mayo's Bridge - RVA's Oldest Infrastructure". The Richmond Tour Guys. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  6. "FALLING OF A BRIDGE SPAN.; A SPACE AND NINE PERSONS CARRIED WITH IT, BUT NO ONE SERIOUSLY INJURED". timesmachine.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2019-08-31.


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