Tag Archives: Irondequoit Bay Bridge

More history from the Irondequoit Bay Bridge

10 Jan

It’s really funny how when I’m really at a loss for anything to post, something interesting just pops up out of nowhere.

Like today’s interesting historical nugget, which is kind of a follow-up to two blogs I wrote last March on the occasion of the Irondequoit Bay Bridge’s 54th birthday. The first was about the fact the bridge had marked a birthday, and included a little history. I got so many interesting comments and memories following that blog that it prompted a second one, where I shared many of them.

Several days ago I got an email from one of my readers about the bridge and an article he was writing for the Irondequoit Bay Fish and Game Club. He wondered if I knew who the general contractor was back in 1967. I wasn’t able to help him much, but he did a little more digging, and came across an article in this publication from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

1971prizebridgebrochureDownload

Turns out the AISC holds an annual national competition rating bridges, and named the Irondequoit Bay Bridge one of the “Prize Bridges of 1971,” one of “the most beautiful bridges opened to traffic in 1970.” Specifically, our beautiful bridge earned an Award of Merit in its Medium Span, High Clearance category.

According to the publication, the contest is designed to

promote a more widespread appreciation of the aesthetics of steel bridges and to honor the architectural excellence of modern bridge design … Each year a distinguished Jury of Awards composed of leading educators, architects, and engineers, selects the steel bridges which it judges to be the most beautiful of those opened to traffic in the United States during the previous year.

So next time you’re crossing over the bay, make sure to tip your hat to our award-winning bridge.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 1/10/2025)

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March History Bit: Happy Birthday Bay Bridge!

14 Mar

The Irondequoit Bay Bridge celebrated a birthday last month.

On Feb. 3, 2024, the Bay Bridge turned 54 years old. Stretching almost a half mile long, the bridge was christened on a snowy day in 1970, which was reportedly so cold that the celebratory wine froze in the glasses before it could be raised. 

Seven months later, on a much sunnier and warmer late August day, the bridge was officially dedicated with not one, but three ribbon cutting ceremonies; one held at the Irondequoit end, a second in the middle and a third at the Webster end.

The project took about two years to build, and apparently much of the discussion during the process centered around what to name the new span. Many ideas were suggested, including naming it after Donald Holleder or even calling it the Hiawatha Bridge. But state regulations didn’t allow any project using state money to be named after a person, so ultimately it became known only as the Irondequoit Bay Bridge.  

Interestingly, the plows waiting on that icy February morning to spread some salt across the newly opened bridge were not the first vehicles to cross. 

As reported Sept. 9, 1970 in the Webster Herald, 

The first “man” across the bridge made it on Feb. 3 at 4:28 a.m. via Union Hill Ambulance. He was then one-year old Kevin Lohse of Greensboro Drive who had stopped breathing. The ambulance was conducted by a police car driven by Sgt. Gil Kunzer whose idea it was to remove the bridge barriers, thus saving needed time and perhaps the youngster’s life. 

Young Kevin, healthy and happy, attended the ribbon cutting ceremonies in August.

Discover more fascinating bits of local history at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. It’s open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Visit the website at webstermuseum.org.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/14/2024)

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