Headen Bridge, County Road 87, spanning Hiawassee River, Hiawassee, Towns County, GA. Surveyed as HAER GA,141-HIAW.V,1-, with a 414-word written history.
“Despite the corrosive forces of the natural elements r the Headen Bridge retains intact its original architectural configuration and functional components, and is an excellent example of an early twentieth century pin-connected Pratt through truss.”
Written record, HAER GA,141-HIAW.V,1- survey. Machine-read text.
Surveyed by the federal HAER program as HAER GA,141-HIAW.V,1- · the record runs 414 words · one of 1 surveyed structures published for this county.
Source document Quoted word for word from HAER GA,141-HIAW.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.
Despite the corrosive forces of the natural elements r the Headen Bridge retains intact its original architectural configuration and functional components, and is an excellent example of an early twentieth century pin-connected Pratt through truss. Historian; Hal Cole, Transportation Planner Associate, Georgia Department of Transportation HEADEN BRIDGE (KELLY BRIDGE) HAER NO. GA-46 (page 2) Constructed in the Headen Bridge was originally situated over the Hiawassee River at a location near or just inside the northern city limits of Hiawassee, Georgia. As a result of the damming of the Chatuge River by.
the Tennessee Valley Authority and subsequent formation of Lake Chatuge, the structure was moved in the early to its present location on Streakheal Road (County Road southeast of the Hiawassee city limits. The rural setting of its original location, however, is maintained where it is presently situated. Its present name is after the Kelly family whose residence is on Streakheal Road quite near the structure. The Kelly Bridge is a single span, Pratt through truss with pin connections, built up channels and laced posts, and is carried on rubble abutments. It is one of 30 known Pratt through trusses found throughout the state, and one of four found within the twenty-one county area of northeast Georgia making up the Georgia Department of Transportation's District 1.
The structure is, however, the only example of its type found in Towns County. Headen Bridge measures 104 feet in length and 14 feet 8 inches in width. The bridge plate,still intact on the structure, carries the inscription, "J. M. Johnson/Ordinary." According to Reuben Walls, present Ordinary of the county, Johnson held this office from until Department of Transportation maintenance records date the bridge to The structure shows evidence of severe corrosion in several of its lower members and in general reflects varying stages of oxidation. All of its original components, however, including guard rails and bridge plate remain intact.
Overall, the Headen Bridge is considered structurally deficient and in poor condition by the Georgia Department of Transportation Bridge Maintenance Department.
| Hiawassee, Georgia | The place record: every map, photograph and survey of this town. |
| Towns County, Georgia | 55 topographic sheets across the county. |
| Library of Congress record | The original filed report as the survey filed it. |
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