Talmadge Memorial Bridge Live Cam

The Talmadge Memorial Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that spans the Savannah River in Georgia, connecting the city of Savannah with Hutchinson Island. The bridge is named in honor of Eugene Talmadge, who served as governor of Georgia for three terms.

Construction of the bridge began in 1986 and it was completed in 1991 at a cost of approximately $71 million. The bridge was designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff and built by the joint venture of TIC/TIC/Traylor Brothers. The main span of the bridge is 1,063 feet (324 meters) long, and the total length of the bridge is 1.9 miles (3.1 kilometers). The bridge has a height of 185 feet (56 meters) above the river's high water mark, allowing large ships to pass beneath it.

The Talmadge Memorial Bridge has become an iconic symbol of Savannah, and is frequently featured in movies and television shows. The bridge is also an important transportation link, serving as the primary route for traffic between downtown Savannah and Hutchinson Island.

Historical Facts

• The Talmadge Memorial Bridge replaced the old Eugene Talmadge Memorial Bridge, which was a cantilever truss bridge that was built in 1953 and named after Eugene Talmadge, the former governor of Georgia. The old bridge was demolished after the new bridge was completed.
• The Talmadge Memorial Bridge was the first cable-stayed bridge to be built in Georgia, and it was the longest cable-stayed bridge in the southeastern United States when it was completed.
• The bridge was designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global engineering and design firm that has been involved in the construction of many iconic bridges around the world, including the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
• The construction of the bridge was a major engineering feat, as it required the building of massive concrete piers that extend more than 150 feet into the riverbed to support the weight of the bridge. The bridge also required the use of over 17,000 tons of steel and 40 miles of cable.
• The Talmadge Memorial Bridge is illuminated at night with a series of LED lights that change color depending on the occasion or event. The bridge is often lit up in red and green during the Christmas season, and it has been lit up in pink in support of breast cancer awareness.
• The bridge is named after Eugene Talmadge, who was a controversial figure in Georgia politics in the first half of the 20th century. Talmadge served as governor of Georgia for three terms, and was known for his populist views and his opposition to civil rights for African Americans.

Proposals for renaming

There have been proposals to rename the Talmadge Memorial Bridge due to Eugene Talmadge's controversial history and views on race. Here are some of the proposals that have been made:

• In 2017, the Savannah City Council passed a resolution calling for the bridge to be renamed. The council recommended that the bridge be renamed the Savannah River Bridge, and that a task force be formed to solicit public input on other potential names.
• Other proposals for renaming the bridge have included the Juliette Gordon Low Bridge, in honor of the founder of the Girl Scouts who was born in Savannah, and the James Oglethorpe Bridge, in honor of the founder of the Georgia colony.
• In 2020, the Savannah-Chatham County Historic Site and Monument Commission voted to recommend that the bridge be renamed the Savannah Bridge. The commission cited concerns about Eugene Talmadge's history of racism and his opposition to civil rights.
• However, renaming the bridge has been a controversial issue, with some people arguing that it should be left as it is to preserve the historical significance of the name. Others have argued that renaming the bridge would be a symbolic gesture and that more substantive action is needed to address issues of racism and inequality.

Geography & Dimensions

The bridge has a total length of 1.9 miles (3.1 kilometers) and a main span length of 1,063 feet (324 meters). It is a cable-stayed bridge, meaning that the weight of the bridge is supported by cables that are attached to towers at either end of the span. The bridge has two main towers that rise to a height of 335 feet (102 meters) above the river.

The deck of the bridge is made of steel and concrete and is 73 feet (22 meters) wide, allowing for two lanes of traffic in each direction and a median barrier. The bridge has a vertical clearance of 185 feet (56 meters) above the high water mark of the Savannah River, which allows large ships to pass underneath.

The Talmadge Memorial Bridge is a significant engineering feat, as it required the construction of massive concrete piers that extend more than 150 feet into the riverbed to support the weight of the bridge. The bridge also required the use of over 17,000 tons of steel and 40 miles of cable. It is an important transportation link for the city of Savannah, providing a direct connection between downtown Savannah and Hutchinson Island.

Comparison with Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and the Sidney Lanier Bridge

The Talmadge Memorial Bridge, Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and Sidney Lanier Bridge are all iconic cable-stayed bridges in the southeastern United States. Here are some comparisons between the three bridges:

• Dimensions: The Talmadge Memorial Bridge has a total length of 1.9 miles and a main span length of 1,063 feet. The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, located in Charleston, South Carolina, has a total length of 13,200 feet and a main span length of 1,546 feet, making it the longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere. The Sidney Lanier Bridge, located in Brunswick, Georgia, has a total length of 7,780 feet and a main span length of 1,500 feet.
• Height: The Talmadge Memorial Bridge has a vertical clearance of 185 feet above the high water mark of the Savannah River. The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge has a clearance of 186 feet above the Cooper River. The Sidney Lanier Bridge has a clearance of 185 feet above the Brunswick River.
• Design: The Talmadge Memorial Bridge and Sidney Lanier Bridge both have two main towers that rise above the deck of the bridge, while the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge has two diamond-shaped towers that support the cables. The Talmadge Memorial Bridge and Sidney Lanier Bridge both have a traditional cable-stayed design, while the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge has a unique diamond-shaped design.
• Location: The Talmadge Memorial Bridge and Sidney Lanier Bridge both span rivers in Georgia, while the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge spans the Cooper River in South Carolina. The Talmadge Memorial Bridge is located in Savannah, a historic city known for its architecture and culture. The Sidney Lanier Bridge is located in Brunswick, a city known for its seafood and historic downtown. The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is located in Charleston, a historic city known for its architecture, food, and culture.

All three bridges are impressive feats of engineering and are important transportation links for their respective cities and regions.