Most People Don’t Know The Story Behind Georgia’s Abandoned Bridge To Nowhere
By Marisa Roman|Updated on January 31, 2023(Originally published January 25, 2023)
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Marisa Roman
Author
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
There is a lot of history within different pockets of Atlanta, especially involving infrastructure. In the Bankhead neighborhood, in particular, there is an old bridge that has been in place for over a century but is no longer in service. This may seem odd, but as city infrastructure changes and society evolves in different ways, things get left behind in favor of new innovations and ways of working. The Bankhead Avenue Bridge, also known as the Atlanta Bridge to Nowhere is an iconic bridge within the city that doesn’t lead to anywhere since one side was torn down many years ago. Take a look at this eerie historical spot. The idea of hurrying up to go nowhere has never rang more true.
There is an abandoned truss bridge in Atlanta, Georgia that has been nicknamed the “Bridge to Nowhere.” And that's because it literally goes nowhere.
Located just northwest of Downtown, this iconic Atlanta bridge has been in place for over 100 years. Unfortunately, it hasn't been utilized effectively most of that time due to fluctuating needs in the city.
You can find the bridge within the city’s Bankhead neighborhood, which is where it got its original name - the Bankhead Avenue Bridge.
This truss bridge was originally built in 1912, helping to carry Bankhead Avenue over the railroad tracks. This was in the heyday of trains when train traffic was bustling in and out of the city all day every day. There needed to be another pedestrian route, and hence the bridge was born.
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But when the automotive traffic on the bridge began to lessen in the 1950s, the train tracks underneath were rerouted to another nearby underpass.
Eventually, in 1991, the bridge officially closed. The eastern half of the bridge was removed for a gigantic parking lot, which is why the bridge seems to lead to nowhere. It's a marker of how the city once operated and how much its changed over the years.
Today, the bridge remains in tact, but has since become a place for photographers to snag some eerie yet beautiful photos of Atlanta’s unique and often forgotten history. All that the bridge is now is a beautiful slice of architecture cutting the fluffy clouds with deliberate, industrial lines.
Anyone who sees the bridge today will likely be able to catch a bit of nature reclaiming the end of the bridge, with trees and bushes taking over.
So far the bridge even remains relatively untouched by artists who often flock to abandoned structures to use as a canvas. While some Georgians wanted to turn the bridge into a streetcar line, others wanted to see it torn down. However, with active train lines running underneath, this task might be harder than anyone imagined. As a result, the bridge still stands, acting as a marker of time in an ever-evolving city.
Just don't expect to get anywhere fast if you take this route!
Have you ever visited or heard about the Bankhead Avenue Bridge? Did you know that it was nicknamed Georgia’s Bridge to nowhere? Share with us your thoughts and experiences in the comments section! We love to hear your firsthand experiences of super cool places.
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