Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[webny99]

I'm looking for examples of where a bridge crosses an island without ever touching ground level on that island, or having any access to that island whatsoever. A local example is here, on the Pont de Rennes bridge which was formerly a road but is now foot and bike traffic only. As you can see, the bridge crosses the island and both forks of the river without access to the island. Curious to know what other examples exist, I'm sure there are plenty on the actual road system and not just a pedestrian bridge.

[1]

I-84 where it almost enters New Jersey.

[TheHighwayMan394]

The Hennepin Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis crosses the Mississippi River through Nicollet Island. Ground access is made crossing a channel on Merriam Street.

[M3100]

Roosevelt Island east of Manhattan in New York City.  New York SR 25 (Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge) passes over it but does not have any offramps.  Access to the island by vehicle is from Long Island City via the Roosevelt Island bridge.  There is also a tramway and ferry access.

[webny99]

I-84 where it almost enters New Jersey.

That isn't technically an island, but since it's a long peninsula and there's no direct access, it's close enough.

The Hennepin Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis crosses the Mississippi River through Nicollet Island. Ground access is made crossing a channel on Merriam Street.

That's the general idea, but from what I can tell, Nicollet Island is also accessible directly from Wilder St (eastbound) and De La Salle Dr (westbound). I actually found a better Twin Cities example here, where Wabasha St. crosses the Mississippi via Raspberry Island with no direct access (although there does appear to be pedestrian access, visible here). Two new bucket list items!

Roosevelt Island east of Manhattan in New York City.  New York SR 25 (Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge) passes over it but does not have any offramps.

Great example, I should have thought of that one when composing my post!

[1995hoo]

The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge (I-66 and US-50) in the District of Columbia passes over the southern end of the island of the same name with no access.

[BrianP]

US 50 crosses the Ohio River including Blennerhassett Island.

[plain]

US 1/301 crosses Belle Isle in Richmond with no access, but there's a foot bridge hanging under it that provides access for pedestrians.

[jmd41280]

I-76/PA Turnpike crosses directly over Fourteen Mile Island in the Allegheny River northeast of Pittsburgh.

[BrianP]

I-76/PA Turnpike crosses directly over Fourteen Mile Island in the Allegheny River northeast of Pittsburgh.

It also crosses Calver Island when crossing the Susquehanna River. 

I-81 crosses McCormick Island when crossing the Susquehanna as well.

[kenarmy]

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.1773931,-90.4454795,737m/data=!3m1!1e3

Idk if this counts as swampy land but 55 passes over several tiny islands.

[Roadrunner75]

Roosevelt Island east of Manhattan in New York City.  New York SR 25 (Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge) passes over it but does not have any offramps.  Access to the island by vehicle is from Long Island City via the Roosevelt Island bridge.  There is also a tramway and ferry access.

Yes, but it actually used to at one point.  There was an elevator for awhile to bring cars and pedestrians down to the island before the bridge between the island and Queens was built.

[CoreySamson]

I-40 over Mud Island in Memphis almost counts, except Mud Island is not an island.

I-210 in Lake Charles passes over a small uninhabited island.

I-10 also does crossing the Lost River east of Houston.

[CtrlAltDel]

I thought there would be one somewhere along US-1 in the Florida Keys, but unless I've missed something, there isn't.

[jmacswimmer]

The US 40 Hatem Bridge & the CSX railroad bridge both pass over Garrett Island while crossing the Susquehanna River.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5639656,-76.0909528,2521m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1?hl=en

[GaryV]

The International Bridge between Sault Ste Marie MI and ON crosses over several islands without access, both natural and manmade (including the portion of SSM MI that is an island because of the power canal).  But the bridge supports touch the islands, so I don't know if that meets your criteria of "without ever touching ground level on that island".

[webny99]

Idk if this counts as swampy land but 55 passes over several tiny islands.

That's an interesting one. It's technically a little different than what I was looking for, but it definitely fits in spirit. I would love to drive that section of I-55 some day.

The International Bridge between Sault Ste Marie MI and ON crosses over several islands without access, both natural and manmade (including the portion of SSM MI that is an island because of the power canal).  But the bridge supports touch the islands, so I don't know if that meets your criteria of "without ever touching ground level on that island".

Absolutely. I mostly just meant without road access, but preferably as an actual bridge instead of crossing at ground level.

And speaking of international border crossings... The Thousand Islands Bridge (ON 137) also crosses multiple islands. And then you've got another really interesting case with the Peace Bridge, which crosses the Bird Island Pier, which is itself an extension of Unity Island, as shown in satellite view here.

[kurumi]

On Hollyhock Island in Norwich, CT, you're looking up at CT 32/82 westbound with no access. (EB is at ground level)

https://goo.gl/maps/wJE92qfXQa4S4awS6

[webny99]

I thought there would be one somewhere along US-1 in the Florida Keys, but unless I've missed something, there isn't.

In that case it kind of makes sense that US 1 crosses all the islands at ground level, because it's the main route used to access the islands in addition to connecting them. You could possibly make a case for Missouri Key, but other than that they all have connecting roads.

[jmacswimmer]

No one yet mentioned the Thomas Hatem Bridge between Havre de Grace, MD and Perryville, MD on US 40.

See reply 14:

The US 40 Hatem Bridge & the CSX railroad bridge both pass over Garrett Island while crossing the Susquehanna River.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5639656,-76.0909528,2521m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1?hl=en

[roadman65]

I do not know how I missed that one.  I scrolled down very slowly.  Oh well, I removed it cause someone else mentioned it already.  I am sure if this thread goes on for several pages it will be mentioned again.

Drum Island in Charleston, SC has the Arthur Ravenel Bridge over it with no access to it.  Yet years ago the John P. Grace Bridge did the same, but dropped down to where it almost came close to being on it, but not far down enough.

[roadman65]

I thought there would be one somewhere along US-1 in the Florida Keys, but unless I've missed something, there isn't.

The old Seven Mile Bridge goes over Pigeon Key, but now is closed to vehicle traffic.  So no access to it by car anymore.

In that case it kind of makes sense that US 1 crosses all the islands at ground level, because it's the main route used to access the islands in addition to connecting them. You could possibly make a case for Missouri Key, but other than that they all have connecting roads.

[briantroutman]

I-76/PA Turnpike crosses directly over Fourteen Mile Island in the Allegheny River northeast of Pittsburgh.

It also crosses Calver Island when crossing the Susquehanna River. 

I-81 crosses McCormick Island when crossing the Susquehanna as well.

If you want to include small and (at least to my knowledge) unnamed islands, the list could be quite long.

In the Harrisburg area—in addition to the examples mentioned above:
- I-81 crosses one other unnamed island in addition to McCormick
- The Harvey Taylor Bridge crosses two unnamed islands
- PA 283 crosses an island in Swatara Creek
- US 322 crosses an island in Swatara Creek

Other examples in Pennsylvania (larger and named islands):

- PA 372 crosses Brushy and Piney Islands in the lower Susquehanna Valley
- US 202 crosses Barbadoes Island near Norristown
- PA 378 crosses the otherwise developed Sand Island in Bethlehem without providing access
  (Nearby New Street also crosses without providing vehicular access but does have a staircase for pedestrians.)
- The Carey Ave Bridge in Plymouth crosses Richard Island
- The 31st Street Bridge in Pittsburgh crosses Herr Island without providing access

[Bruce]

The doomed West Seattle Bridge (high rise structure) passes over Harbor Island without providing access. To reach the island, you have to use the Spokane Street Bridge (aka the low bridge).

[webny99]

If you want to include small and (at least to my knowledge) unnamed islands, the list could be quite long.

In the Harrisburg area—in addition to the examples mentioned above:
...

Other examples in Pennsylvania (larger and named islands):
...

I must say, Pennsylvania and especially the Susquehanna River was custom-made for this thread. A lot of great examples have been posted, but two of yours are already my all-time favorites: This one (for its general uniqueness) and this one (for the Pittsburgh skyline, although my Rochester skyline example in the OP is a close second).

It would be tough to come up with that many good examples for New York. The two border crossings and the Pont de Rennes were the only three I had thought of so far, and a fourth just occurred to me: NY 3 over the Salmon River in Pulaski. I'm sure there are more, but they're not easy finds.