Three Flowering Bridges
Brian Brenner, PE, F.ASCE, Professor of the Practice, Tufts University
Some communities have planted gardens on unused bridges and reused them as gardens. The old bridges had been replaced with newer structures or no longer needed for their original function. The structures often remained in limbo, not demolished but not in active use either and at risk of deterioration. Instead of becoming eyesores, repurposed flowering bridges can become regional tourist attractions, and a focus of community interest and involvement.
Unlike highway and transit bridges, flowering bridges tend not to have a dedicated income stream available for maintenance and rehabilitation. They are owned by local communities with limited budgets, and are typically managed by committees of volunteers via non-profit organizations. Volunteers can successfully perform work for regular, standard maintenance, and they are able to tend to and plant the gardens. But large bridges eventually need large maintenance projects, and this is beyond the capabilities of volunteers. Bridge maintenance also needs substantial funding. Flowering bridge owners have become creative in applying for non-traditional grants to support rehabilitation projects.
The original structural designs for highway or trolley loads tend to provide capacities greater than what is needed to support the gardens and pedestrian use. Vehicular traffic is limited on pedestrian paths to smaller carts and some small maintenance vehicles. From a bridge perspective, unique design issues include special provisions for gardens such as irrigation and drainage.
Three flowering bridges are located, respectively, in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, Simsbury, Connecticut, and Lake Lure, North Carolina. The first two have been subject to extensive structural rehabilitation in 2024. The third, unfortunately, was badly damaged by flooding from Hurricane Helene in September.
The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls is the oldest and best known of the three. It is a five span, closed spandrel wall concrete arch bridge spanning the Deerfield River. The bridge started out as a trolley crossing, connecting the towns of Shelburne and Buckland. It was built in 1908 and provided transport for local factories. With the advent of motorized vehicles, trucking replaced the trolley service, and the trolley company went out of business in 1927. Shelburne Falls residents came up with a plan to reuse the bridge as a linear garden, and the Bridge of Flowers was first planted in 1929. Since then, the bridge has become a big tourist stop along the Mohawk Trail and a major economic generator for Shelburne Falls and the region. The bridge is owned by the Shelburne Falls Fire District, which is responsible for maintaining a water line across the bridge.
Bridge of Flowers, Shelburne, MA
The old bridge structure is solid. The bridge piers are founded directly on the high rock ledge just below the riverbed. In 2011, Tropical Storm Irene caused major flooding in Vermont and western Massachusetts. Flood waters almost reached the crowns of the Bridge of Flowers arches. The bridge withstood the storm, but over time cracks appeared on the spandrel walls. In particular, a large crack opened on the north fascia, with parts of the wall bulging outwards.
The Fire District successfully applied for a MassWorks grant to fund a rehabilitation project. In preparation for the work, plants and flowers were moved off the bridge in Fall 2023, and construction proceeded in 2024. The project includes replacement of parts of spandrel walls, concrete crack repair and sealing, replacement of structural ties, and cleaning and repair of bridge drains. The work is expected to be completed in time for replanting and reopening of the bridge in spring 2025.
The Bridge of Flowers has been a big success and a big part of Shelburne Falls. National and even international visitors have come to walk the gardens over the gurgling river below, and then visit other sites such as the glacial potholes and the quaint 19-century townscape. Inspired by the success of the Bridge of Flowers, communities in Connecticut and North Carolina created their own flowering bridges.
The Drake Hill Flower Bridge, in Simsbury, Connecticut, started out as a crossing for Drake Hill Road over the Farmington River. It is a Parker Truss bridge built in 1892 with a span of 183 feet. In 1992, Drake Hill Road was relocated to the northeast across a new highway bridge. The Old Drake Hill Bridge remained open to pedestrians and cyclists. Looking north to the success of Shelburne Falls, the town of Simsbury decided to add flowers and gardens in 1996. The bridge and the adjacent area provide space for plantings and community gardens. The old truss bridge is now a popular photo site for high school proms and weddings.
Drake Hill Flower Bridge, Simsbury, Connecticut
This year, the bridge was closed for maintenance. Work included cleaning and repainting the truss, replacing the wood deck and miscellaneous steel repairs. Over the summer, the deck was removed and the bridge was tarped and enclosed for painting. The work is on schedule for reopening of the bridge next year. Project funding was provided as part of the Town’s capital improvement projects budget.
The third flowering bridge crosses the Broad River where it empties into Lake Lure, North Carolina. The lake is about 25 miles southeast of Asheville, in a scenic Appalachian Mountain location. Unfortunately, the beautiful valley acted as a funnel to channel flood water from Hurricane Helene torrential rainfall last September. The lake was at the epicenter of the catastrophic floods that struck the western mountain region of North Carolina. Flash floods inundated the adjacent town of Chimney Rock. Much of the town’s infrastructure on the banks of the Broad River washed away in the floods. Debris was carried downstream into the lake, which was coated by a thick film of debris from vehicles and destroyed buildings. US Route Alt 74 lost its pavement for long stretches during the inundation.
Two bridges cross the Broad River where it joins the lake. The first bridge, Broad River Bridge #7, is a three span closed spandrel wall concrete arch bridge built in 1925. In 2011, a new highway bridge was constructed to the west and the first bridge remained in use for pedestrians. Some local fans of the Massachusetts Bridge of Flowers marshalled local resources, and Bridge #7 became the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge in 2013. The bridge deck was rebuilt and planted with themed gardens. A visitors / educational center was constructed on the south side, and lush gardens were planted on the bridge and adjacent shores. The Flowering Bridge was a big success for residents and visitors to the popular tourist areas around Lake Lure and Chimney Rock.
Photos below show the bridge before September 2024, and in the aftermath of the flash floods. The bridge structure appears to have been damaged but has survived. But one abutment appears to have washed away when the flooded river carved a new path around it. The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge website posted this message:
“We have experienced unprecedented devastation throughout the Hickory Nut Gorge in Western North Carolina as a result of Hurricane Helene. The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge has sustained much structural damage. The west end gardens are entirely gone, and the Rocky Broad River is flowing through this area. The Education Center, Informational Kiosk and Atrium in this area are still standing. Initial assessments are much damage to the east end of the gardens.”
Lake Lure Flowering Bridge
Lake Lure Flowering Bridge looking north
Lake Lure Flowering Bridge on September 28, 2024
The mountain regions of North Carolina and Tennessee face a long and difficult recovery period after catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene. Broad River Bridge #7 experienced significant structural damage but remains standing. Despite the challenges, the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge committee looks forward to rebuilding and replanting the bridge.