Redding Down

I’m already thanking God i can pass for white.

My latest bridge photography excursion involved jumping into the Prius and heading up to Redding on I-5 with the cruise control set to 73 and 3/4ths MPH.  When i exited the freeway in Redding, i turned off the cruise control and began looking for vantages from which i could photograph bridges.

Working my way down the Sacramento River, i started with the 1915 Diestelhorst Bridge now dedicated to pedestrians and bicyclists and popularly known as the Diesel Horse Bridge.  Since color photography didn’t exist in 1915, my shot is in black and white.

Paralleling the old bridge a hundred feet downstream is its 1996 replacement, the Lake Redding Bridge, more commonly known as the New Diestelhorst Bridge and also a concrete arch construction that “reflects and respects” the old bridge.  Here it is from the east with the support columns of the old bridge visible beneath it.

And from the foot of the Diesel Horse bridge, flanked by its edge and the Redding Trestle.

Immediately downstream is the spectacular 1939 Redding Trestle, a hundred-foot-high, four-fifths-mile-long railroad bridge that is an absolute joy to behold from just about any angle.  Here’s a closeup of the river span.

A shot of the north end.

About a mile downstream is the 1935 Redding Police Officer Owen “Ted” Lyon Memorial Bridge.  Here it is from the east.

And from the west.  Close observers will gnotice the gnomon of the Sundial Bridge sticking up behind the north end of the bridge.  The gravel bar is in there because we’re at the beginning of the rainy season and the river is still quite low.

Speaking of Santiago Calatrava’s 2004 Sundial Bridge, it is illegal to visit Redding without paying tribute to its most famous bridge, and since i didn’t want to be cast into outer darkness, here’s a shot from this trip.

One more.  I photographed this bridge to pieces in “Sundial Bridge“, and a couple of my photos of it appeared in Turning Torso, José Miguel Hernández Hernández’ book on Santiago Calatrava’s work.

The next bridge downstream is on SR 44 and does not, as best i can determine, have a name.  The only datum i could find was that it was built in 1964.

Time for breakfast.  I don’t eat in national chains, so my heart leaped when i spotted Sweetie’s, a local restaurant with a full parking lot.  I was seduced by their Smoked Pork Chop Benedict with country fries.  Quite tasty, and sure did stick to my ribs.

Then, in southern Redding, the Cypress Avenue Bridge from 2011.

Now, down at the southern edge of Redding, the South Bonnyview Road Bridge from 1978 with a twin span added in 1997.

Now down to the north edge of Anderson, where I-5 crosses the river on a bridge completed in 2000.  Alas, the riverbanks here are lined either by trees or by large houses with tall fences, so i could find no point from which to photograph the bridge.  See what i mean?

However, the 2010 North Street Bridge in Anderson had a better vantage.

And an even better vantage from the other side.

Next, over to eastern Anderson for the 1970 Deschutes Road Bridge.

Then following little country roads southwards to the 1970 Ash Creek Road Bridge, about which i can find no information other than its mention in the List of Crossings of the Sacramento River.

Other side.

Time for a break from the less interesting modern bridges.  Let’s go south to the Jelly’s Ferry Road Bridge, a 5 span Parker through truss bridge from 1949.

From underneath.

And a shot of the end.

Now more country roads south to the 1989 Bend Ferry Road Bridge.

A word on nomenclature about these “Ferry Road” bridges.   There were originally ferries across the rivers, and they were gradually replaced by bridges that often got named after the ferry roads.

Now back onto I-5 to just north of Red Bluff for this 1964 bridge on I-5.

Other side.

Now into Red Bluff for the 1938 Antelope Boulevard Bridge.  Here’s an end shot.

And a fuller view from the other side.

Back onto the Interstate to just south of Red Bluff for another 1964 bridge on I-5.

The bonus here is that an old railroad bridge runs immediately north of the highway bridge.

Next, down to Tehama for the 1977 Tehama Bridge.

From the other end.

And finally, into Corning for a stop at Bartel’s Giant Burger.  Alas, that smoked pork chop Benedict i had for lunch was still sticking with me, so for the first time at Bartel’s i skipped the burger and just had a chocolate milkshake.  Hadn’t had one of those in ages, and it sure was good.

That’s it for this bridge expedition.  Stay tuned for the next, when i’ll capture the remaining bridges over the Sacramento River.