6th Street Bridge (Metal Truss Bridge)

Georgia has very few metal truss bridges, and as such, a bridge like this one, which would stand out in the most truss-rich state in the country, is so rare and significant that it might be the most important historic bridge in the entire state. The bridge is significant as an earlier pin-connected railroad truss bridge. The bridge is unusual because it is two independent truss spans sitting side by side on a shared substructure to form a single two lane bridge. The center of this bridge has two independent truss lines yielding a total of four truss lines. The bridge also displays distinctive/unusual design details. The orientation of the sway bracing is such that the v-lacing is on the top and bottom of the built up beams. Usually with sway bracing of this design, the v-lacing/lattice is on the sides of the beam. The first section of bottom chord extends from the end post across two panels before it is connected to a vertical member. In other words, it is not connected to the hip vertical which is unusual. The pediment portal bracing and the design of its associated knee bracing is both uncommon and beautiful.