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| will be 175 years old in 2010. It is the oldest major railroad viaduct in North America and the first built on a curved alignment. The bridge, located at Relay and Elkridge, Maryland, is a National Historic Landmark, a Maryland Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, and a potential World Heritage Railway Site. |
| But this "masterpiece of the mason's art...a superb work of architecture as well as of engineering," according to author Carl Condit, is in disrepair. The surrounding area is overgrown and inhospitable to visitors. As we celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Thomas Viaduct, help us to improve the condition of the structure and its environment so that people can see and appreciate one of our nation's most important bridges of any type. |
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| Pressure wash and re-point viaduct masonry. |
| Remove and repair remaining sections of original 1835 cast-iron railing and reinstall as fencing around the monument. |
| Fabricate and install new steel railing based on original design. |
| Pressure wash and restore the monument. |
| Estimated cost, $1.7 million (to be raised) |
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James D. Dilts [e] j.dilts@verizon.net [p] 410.235.9733
John Slater [e john@slaterassoc.com
Friends Of Patapsco Valley +
Heritage Greenway
[e] patapscofriend@comcast.net |
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| Create an overlook park at the viaduct's north end as a viewing and orientation area, fenced off from the tracks. |
| Add interpretive signage that relates the story of the construction of the viaduct and the history of the community |
| Provide access path from lower level Avalon Area Welcome Station to the overlook park. |
| At the Viaduct's south end clear viewscapes on either side of the bridge in the state park, and provide access via a path from the existing parking lot on the Payne property. |
| Add interpretive signage. |
| Estimated cost, $1.1 million (state funds) |
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