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Mayo's Bridge (also known as Richmond's 14th St. Bridge) is located in
Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...
. A four lane structure, it transports
U.S. Route 360 U.S. Route 360 (US 360) is a spur route of US 60. The U.S. Highway runs entirely within the state of Virginia from US 58 Business, Virginia State Route 293 (SR 293), and SR 360 in Danville east to SR 644 in Reedville. US 360 connects Danvill ...
across the
James River The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 to Ches ...
. Signage identifies the bridge as "Mayo's Bridge". The bridge is in two sections, separated near the middle by Mayo's Island. The total length is 1,374 feet (north and south sections combined). The current structure was built in 1913, and accommodated heavy streetcar traffic. It is Richmond's oldest highway bridge across the James River. Prior to the construction of Mayo's Bridge, travelers had to utilize Coutts' Ferry, run by Patrick Coutts until his death in 1776 and later by his brother Rev. William Coutts until his death in 1787. The ferry landing was at a place called the "Sandy Bar" at the end of 18th Street. The ferry was kept up for many years after the bridge was built as the 6.25¢ toll was impressive and the bridge was often broken, thus necessitating the ferry. Patrick Coutts was something of a legend in old Richmond. This stemmed from the story that he had crossed the river not by ferry or bridge, but by sturgeon. Many people petitioned the Virginia Assembly for the right to build a bridge, but none were successful in receiving permission. Around the mid-1780s, John Mayo, son of William Mayo (the man who had laid out the plan for Richmond), was given the opportunity to build a toll bridge but died soon after. His son, John Mayo Jr., inherited his estate and finally completed the first bridge across the James in 1788. This bridge was very rudimentary and consisted of “large logs, raft-like, spiked to the rocks, with rough floor laid on the logs” on the north side of Mayo's Island and of a pontoon bridge that had planks laid on top of a series of boats on the south side. This bridge was destroyed the winter after its completion by ice floes dragging the bridge away. It was destroyed and subsequently rebuilt in 1814, 1816, 1823, 1865, 1870, 1877, 1882, and 1899. It was built on the site of the city's first bridge completed in 1788 by John Mayo Jr., the grandson of the man who first laid out Richmond's grid pattern. During the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by state ...
the bridge was burned by retreating Confederate soldiers on April 8, 1865. In 1882, the a portion of the bridge collapsed with nine people on it; however, no one was killed or badly hurt in the incident. Rising just 30 feet above the water line, Mayo's Bridge is currently Richmond's only bridge subject to flooding. Large floodgates in Richmond's
flood wall A flood wall (or floodwall) is a primarily vertical artificial barrier designed to temporarily contain the waters of a river or other waterway which may rise to unusual levels during seasonal or extreme weather events. Flood walls are mainly ...
protect the surrounding areas on each side during James River flooding. The bridge's closeness to the river surface has made the sidewalks on either side of it popular fishing locations.


References

{{Coord, 37, 31, 45.4, N, 77, 26, 2.7, W, type:landmark, display=title Bridges completed in 1913 Bridges over the James River (Virginia) Bridges in Richmond, Virginia Road bridges in Virginia Former toll bridges in Virginia 1913 establishments in Virginia U.S. Route 60 Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System