Bayard Bridge

{{Infobox Bridge

|bridge_name = Bayard Bridge

|image = bayardbridge.jpg

|caption =

|official_name =

|carries = {{jct|state=WV|CR|90|denom1=2}}

|crosses = North Branch Potomac River

|locale = Bayard, West Virginia

|maint = West Virginia Division of Highways

|id =

|designer =

|design = through truss

|material = steel

|spans = 3

|pierswater =

|mainspan =

|length = {{convert|124|ft}}

|width = {{convert|13|ft}}

|height =

|load =

|clearance =

|below =

|traffic = closed

|begin =

|complete =

|open = pre-1900

|heritage =

|closed = closed 1988

|toll =

|map_cue =

|map_image =

|map_text =

|map_width =

|coordinates = {{coord|39|16|27|N|79|22|11|W|display=inline,title}}

|lat =

|long =

|extra =

}}

The Bayard Bridge is a crossing of the North Branch Potomac River between Grant County, West Virginia and Garrett County, Maryland. The bridge takes its name from the town of Bayard at its West Virginia end.

History

According to West Virginia Division of Highways records, Bayard Bridge was built prior to 1900.{{cite web|url=http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=54&struct=00000000012A065|title=National Bridge Inventory: 00000000012A065|publisher=Federal Highway Administration|access-date=November 27, 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20081127230447/http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=54&struct=00000000012A065|archive-date=November 27, 2008|url-status=dead}} The through truss span became limited by its narrow {{convert|13|ft|adj=on}} width, and the state decided to close this span along with ones at Dobbin and Henry in 1988.

Replacement span

Since its closing, local citizens and businesses on both sides of the bridge have pushed for the construction of a replacement span at various times. As of 2008, there is a current campaign to acquire a new bridge.{{cite news |title=Bayard surprised by STIP results |url=http://www.newstribune.info/homepage/x635410351/Bayard-surprised-by-STIP-results |publisher=Mineral Daily News-Tribune |first=Jean |last=Braithwaite |date=October 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110716100020/http://www.newstribune.info/homepage/x635410351/Bayard-surprised-by-STIP-results |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=Mount Storm Man Joins the Bayard Bridge Campaign|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6kUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5677,1396462&dq=bayard-bridge |publisher= Grant County Press |date= December 30, 2003}}