The Bridge at Falling Creek is a historic stone

arch bridge An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side. A viaduct ...

located near

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

, in

Chesterfield County, Virginia Chesterfield County is located just south of Richmond, Virginia, Richmond in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. The county's borders are primarily defined by the James River to the north and the Appomattox River to the sout ...

. It was built about 1823 of rough-cut, uncoursed granite. It is carried by two semicircular barrel arches with

voussoir A voussoir () is a wedge-shaped element, typically a stone, which is used in building an arch or vault. Although each unit in an arch or vault is a voussoir, two units are of distinct functional importance: the keystone and the springer. The ...

s of rough-finished granite. Its width including

parapet A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/breast'). Whe ...

s is , and its length is . It carried the southbound lanes of U.S. Route 301 until 1977, when it was put out of service. It is accessible from a wayside that includes the

Falling Creek UDC Jefferson Davis Highway Marker Falling Creek UDC Jefferson Davis Highway Marker is a historic stone highway marker located near Richmond, in Chesterfield County, Virginia. It was erected in 1933, and is one of sixteen erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in Virgin ...

. an
''Accompanying two photos''
/ref> The bridge was partially damaged in 2004 but still remains significant. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1995.

References

Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Bridges completed in 1823 Buildings and structures in Chesterfield County, Virginia National Register of Historic Places in Chesterfield County, Virginia U.S. Route 301 Stone arch bridges in the United States {{Virginia-bridge-struct-stub

See also

References