Posted by Lachy Sorry to ask again guys but does anyone know any database or something that you could look up these dates, or is it all just some advanced google searching?
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No reason to apologize this is the rookie forum after all. Like any research stop and look at the context, theres a number that appears to be a year "engraved" into a bridge. We can probably eliminate that date being the signing of the treaty of Versailles, or when Ford first utilized an overhead valve engine design. Why else would a construction company put a date on a bridge except for the date of construction. Anyone?
1, its not engraved its cast in with a stamp when the concrete was still green so you know it happened then
2, they would not likely place a rural route number or a speed limit or a rail line designation on the side of a bridge where the engineer or motorists cant see it
3, if you wander around many big cities you will see similar numbers in concrete sidewalks and curbs, I cant imagine a bridge built in 1953 bearing a random date from history say, the battle of Hastings in 1066 for example.
4, context context context, if such a data base exists, it would be pretty obscure and the chance a bridge in Ohio was built in the same year as a bridge on the same highway in Kentucky would add greatly to the confusion. You might try to research the railroads involved but since it was built before Al Gore invented the Internet Im afraid youre going to be disappointed no matter how strong your Google Fu is.
5, County records of which ever construction company was contracted to do the construction may be the only record that exists and 9 times out of 10 its going to be on paper not the webz
6, benchmarks are a whole nuther thang, typically theyre LAT/LON cords and any date would be the date the benchmark was placed not the date the concrete bridge was built
https://www.co-ops...marks/8538274.html 7, UER member tombombadom just got a nice response from his county clerks office under the FOIA , it was fairly extensive but again it may not even exist for your particular concrete structure, your mileage will vary..