Here’s a bridge I drive across occasionally:
Why are those holes there?
Might be saying something stupid, but it looks like the bridge is lower than the roads leading to it. So it could be something to avoid flooding on the bridge in case of a lot of rain…
They look to be on each side of the expansion joint in the middle of the bridge. No doubt related, but no guess why, 'cept maybe New Jersey?
The same thought crossed my mind, but wouldn’t drain holes be lower? If you rotate the picture to the other side of the bridge you can see the surface of the water below it and it’s not really near the bottom of the bridge, so I see no reason to place drain holes so high.
Maybe weep holes?
That doesn’t seem to quite fit, because the holes aren’t at the bottom and those walls don’t appear to be retaining anything.
Possibly at one time that bridge was a draw bridge, and the holes held some kind of draw bridge part. There is a clear separation in the bricks that are perfectly in line with the seam.
Looks like the bottom half of the hole was bricked up.
It probably served as drainage for the bridge until someone complained that their toddler might slip thru the hole to his death on the rocks below. Insurance company then made the city render the drainage system useless. This’ll now allow cars to skid out of control during heavy downpours, and slip over the railing to a fiery doom on the rocks below.
It’s over a teeny tiny little stream.
It looks like one of them was repaired, as you described, but the other side appears to be untouched original equipment.
this is an indication that it was a toll bridge.
if the bridge didn’t produce enough revenue then chains and hooks were used to move it to a better location.
The opening on the other side does not appear to have been bricked up later. Also, what appear to be the letters DP are stenciled above the opening if that is a clue for anyone.
I DO like your imaginative description of a possible automotive tragedy though.
Toll road :dubious: possibly.
Maybe the holes held the pole that stretched across the bridge, at the toll plaza.
Surely you meant “troll” bridge.
The trolls hide in the holes, and jump out to collect tribute from travelers.
Those that don’t pay, well… It could ruin their weekend.
You know the old saying: “fee, fo, fi, fum. I smell the blood of an Englishman.”
I think that would be a “tow” bridge.
There looks to be a small sign plate above the hole, but I can’t zoom on this device. What is it?
Says “DP” - could mean Drainage Point?
Don’t Peek
I’ve seen DPW (department of public works) on manhole covers.
That is odd. It may have something to do with the drainage as others have said. Though I’m not sure how that would work.
I did find this: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~batsto/Towns/Crosswicks/Bridge.html
showing that this location had been the site of a historical covered bridge. Perhaps it has something to do with that.
Many times for historical or preservation reasons certain architectural details are added to new structures to mimic older ones that are being replaced.
One other possibility. This was some kind of blockout or pass through for a utility of some sort. This seems unlikely though
The bridge has a few similar holes, but it looks like the others aren’t open; there’s something in them. One looks a bit like a curved metal reflector. My guess is they once held lights.
Obviously, the bridge has been Dual Penetrated, and they were proud enough of the fact to label it so.