Houston bridges span not only waterways and freeways, they also connect the city's past and present. From the littler bridges built to facilitate commerce and connect communities in the city centre, to the electrifying structures built in the port district, bridges in Houston reflect the unique culture of the city. There is a list right below for you to pick and choose at least one bridge to visit while in Houston. Have fun!
The Sidney Sherman Bridge
Also known as the Loop 610 Ship Channel Bridge, the Sidney Sherman Bridge spans the Houston Ship Channel southeast of downtown. It was named for a colonel in the Republic of Texas Military, Sidney Sherman, a leading counsel for improvements to the Houston Ship Channel. The strutted girder bridge, made of steel and concrete, opened on March 2, 1973. The key span of the bridge is 600 feet long and ten lanes wide. Its traffic volume as of 2001 averaged 100 22 thousand vehicles per day. Native Houston folk worth this bridge for its view of the Houston Ship Channel, especially at night when the twinkling lights of the industrial section of the city can be seen in the distance.
Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge
Formerly called the Jesse H. Jones Memorial Bridge, this bridge crosses the Houston Ship Channel at Beltway 8 to the east of downtown Houston. The cantilevered concrete box girder bridge opened in 1982 with a main span length of 7 hundred and fifty feet. Though its architecture might seem modest and minimalist compared to other major Houston bridges, the Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge is among the most highly travelled. Its 4 traffic lanes saw more than twenty-eight thousand automobiles a day in 2002.
San Jacinto Street Bridge
This open spandrel arch bridge was built in 1914 to span Buffalo Bayou in the guts of downtown Houston. It was rehabilitated in 1995. With a length of 300 and 25 feet, the San Jacinto Street Bridge is part of the one-way, northward bound road; southerly bound traffic must employ the Fannin Street Bridge. This bridge is incredible because of its very different design.
Fred Hartman Bridge
The Fred Hartman Bridge connects the communities of LaPorte and Baytown. Outside Houston proper, though still within the Houston metropolitan area, this steel, cable-stayed bridge is eight traffic lanes wide. It was built in 1995. As of 2008, its median daily traffic exceeded 30 thousand vehicles a day. The Fred Hartman Bridge is a must-see in Houston.
McKee Street Bridge
Found in Houston's Warehouse District, the design of McKee Street Bridge shows equal parts history and caprice. The bridge is on the National Historic Register. Engineer James Gordon McKenzie built the girder bridge in 1932. Made of reinforced concrete, the girders continue their curves above the roadway, making for a surprising but pleasing shape. In an urban reclamation project, an artist named Kirk Farris painted the McKee Street Bridge using bright reds and blues, adding multiple, bulbous light fixtures that boost its eccentric appearance.
The Sidney Sherman Bridge
Also known as the Loop 610 Ship Channel Bridge, the Sidney Sherman Bridge spans the Houston Ship Channel southeast of downtown. It was named for a colonel in the Republic of Texas Military, Sidney Sherman, a leading counsel for improvements to the Houston Ship Channel. The strutted girder bridge, made of steel and concrete, opened on March 2, 1973. The key span of the bridge is 600 feet long and ten lanes wide. Its traffic volume as of 2001 averaged 100 22 thousand vehicles per day. Native Houston folk worth this bridge for its view of the Houston Ship Channel, especially at night when the twinkling lights of the industrial section of the city can be seen in the distance.
Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge
Formerly called the Jesse H. Jones Memorial Bridge, this bridge crosses the Houston Ship Channel at Beltway 8 to the east of downtown Houston. The cantilevered concrete box girder bridge opened in 1982 with a main span length of 7 hundred and fifty feet. Though its architecture might seem modest and minimalist compared to other major Houston bridges, the Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge is among the most highly travelled. Its 4 traffic lanes saw more than twenty-eight thousand automobiles a day in 2002.
San Jacinto Street Bridge
This open spandrel arch bridge was built in 1914 to span Buffalo Bayou in the guts of downtown Houston. It was rehabilitated in 1995. With a length of 300 and 25 feet, the San Jacinto Street Bridge is part of the one-way, northward bound road; southerly bound traffic must employ the Fannin Street Bridge. This bridge is incredible because of its very different design.
Fred Hartman Bridge
The Fred Hartman Bridge connects the communities of LaPorte and Baytown. Outside Houston proper, though still within the Houston metropolitan area, this steel, cable-stayed bridge is eight traffic lanes wide. It was built in 1995. As of 2008, its median daily traffic exceeded 30 thousand vehicles a day. The Fred Hartman Bridge is a must-see in Houston.
McKee Street Bridge
Found in Houston's Warehouse District, the design of McKee Street Bridge shows equal parts history and caprice. The bridge is on the National Historic Register. Engineer James Gordon McKenzie built the girder bridge in 1932. Made of reinforced concrete, the girders continue their curves above the roadway, making for a surprising but pleasing shape. In an urban reclamation project, an artist named Kirk Farris painted the McKee Street Bridge using bright reds and blues, adding multiple, bulbous light fixtures that boost its eccentric appearance.
About the Author:
Shawn Shawshank has been fascinated by Houston landmarks for several years. He has written op-eds and editorial pieces for many online publications. For more information about Houston bridges feel free to visit his site.
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