The Bridges of Trenton

The main reason we headed to the Delaware River today was to take photos of the ice. Every day for weeks I've been enjoying the view of the choppy white ice and wondering where to stand for the best views. Today we did some exploring, and I managed to shoot all the bridges of Trenton. Enjoy the trek!

The "Trenton Makes" Bridge (1928)

The current bridge was installed in 1928, replacing a series of bridges at this crossing including the first bridge to span the Delaware. (Before them, in the eigtheenth century, there was a ferry here.) The first letters spelling out "Trenton Makes the World Takes" were added in 1935 and replaced in 1981. In 2005, those letters were replaced with brighter neon ones which are usually lit when I drive by at night.

The "Trenton Makes" bridge has a convenient sidewalk, but you'd better walk your bike.

The Trenton sign from the inside of the bridge.

Looking north: not all the river is frozen. (That's Trenton back there.)

I've been wanting this shot for years. (From the PA side looking north.)

Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge (1908)

Trains used to cross the river on a predecessor of the current Trenton Makes Bridge, but then the Pennsylvania Railroad built this masterpiece of a stone arch bridge, downriver from the Trenton Makes Bridge.

Standing under the U.S.1 bridge to shoot the Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge

Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge in the icy river

Calhoun Street Bridge (1884)

This bridge is an oldie, about a mile north of the Trenton Makes Bridge. It's 1,273 feet long and opened in 1884, replacing an older, wooden bridge that burnt earlier that year. The older bridge was built in 1861 to replace a ferry crossing. The present bridge was built on the original bridge's piers and abutments. 

The Calhoun Street Bridge

This is where the Calhoun Street Bridge came from

The Reading Railroad (West Trenton) Bridge (1913)

My favorite, the Roman aqueduct-style Reading Railroad Bridge from the NJ side looking southwest

Reading Railroad Bridge from New Jersey looking northwest

I celebrated the 100th birthday of this bridge by blogging about it on another snowy winter day: Click here to read more details and see photos from the Pennsylvania side.