Highland in Ulster County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge Cantilevered Spans

The Great Connector

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2019

1. Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge Cantilevered Spans Marker

Inscription. The bridge has three cantilevered spans supported by rectangular trusses. Developed during the 19th century, the cantilever span is supported on only one end and can bridge greater distances with few supports.

Background photograph by Dennis Lee. Courtesy Harrison Burrowes Bridge Constructors, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Bridges & Viaducts.

Location. 41° 42.638′ N, 73° 56.774′ W. Marker is in Highland, New York, in Ulster County. Marker can be reached from Haviland Road, half a mile east of U.S. 44, on the left when traveling east. Marker is mounted at knee-level on the north railing of the old Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge, about 1/2 mile east of the Haviland Road parking lot for Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 87 Haviland Road, Highland NY 12528, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sloops (within shouting distance of this marker); Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Clearwater (about 400 feet away); Poughkeepsie-Highland Bridge (about 400 feet away); Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge Construction

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(about 600 feet away); Mid-Hudson Bridge Suspension Cables (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Fall Kill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mid-Hudson Bridge Dedication (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Highland.

More about this marker. Originally built in 1889, today the repurposed Poughkeepsie Highland Railroad Bridge carries a scenic pedestrian walkway over the Hudson River.

Also see . . . Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge Construction. Cantilever spans are built entirely from above by means of traveling scaffolds, projecting over and pushing forward day by day. The weights of the scaffold and of the projecting spans of the bridge are prevented from tipping over either by anchorages or by the weight of the connecting spans themselves. (Submitted on February 11, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Cantilevered Spans Marker • <i>wide view<br>(looking northeast • Hudson River in background)</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2019

2. Cantilevered Spans Marker • wide view
(looking northeast • Hudson River in background)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 10, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 11, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.