1967,1977 VA-156 Benjamin Harrison Bridge over James River near Hopewell, VA

(Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; no B&T; Satellite)

Credit: Tom Saunders, VDOT Flickr, License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)

Credit: D. Allen Covey, VDOT Flickr, License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)

Bridges Now and Then posted four photos with the comment: "'On February 24, 1977 the tanker Marine Floridian rammed the Benjamin Harrison Bridge, about 2 miles below Hopewell, Virginia. About 350 feet of the trestle was destroyed, one section falling into the river and the other landing on the deck of the ship. On March 6, 1977 the north tower section of the bridge collapsed. As the tower fell it broke the wiring in the bridge structure setting off an explosion and fire in an oil drum near the bridge tender's house. The bridge collapse caused more damage to the Marine Floridian, but also allowed the tanker to be freed from the bridge. The collapse increased the cost of repairing the bridge and the length of time repairs would take. Pedestrian and vehicle ferry service over the James River was established.' (Daily Press)" [This appears to be the source]

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VDOT Flickr, License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)

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Dennis DeBruler commented on the above post

This shows the scene after the tower and lift span collapsed.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vadot/38630731210/

License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)

VDOT Flickr, License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)

VDOT Flickr, License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)

"Notable for a bridge this new (built 1966, rebuilt 1978), is the extensive use of built-up lattice members. Built-up members using V-lacing or lattice, are rarely seen this recently, except for historical purposes. After about 1950, it became less expensive to use a single piece of flat, rolled steel, with oval cut-out holes. I wonder if this older, more costly construction method was used to reduce the weight of the lift span. Royce and Bobette Haley's excellent photos here show the latticework very well." [Roger Deschner comment on BridgeHunter]

Street View

"The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) plans to replace rather than continue to repair the Benjamin Harrison Bridge before 2040. The state may get two additional decades of use beyond the anticipated 50-year service life span of the 1966 bridge by spending $78 million between 2018-2039. It will cost another $182 million (in 2018 dollars) to build a replacement structure. Funding might be obtained in a public-private partnership." [VirginiaPlaces]