The Lion Bridge

It was beautiful May weather in 1916 when the County Supervisors met in a real quandary.  The old 1897 wagon bridge across the Tuolumne River was in bad shape and totally inadequate for a future of automobiles, but the bids were too high. County Engineer Annear reminded them a decision was necessary now because construction was only possible during months of low water flow.  After a second call for bids, a contract was signed, and the project was soon underway.

After bad weather, flooding, labor delays, and collapses, there was success, and the enthusiastic communities of Modesto and Ceres celebrated the dedication of the new Tuolumne River Bridge on Thursday, March 22, 1917.  The local newspaper, “The Modesto Herald”, clearly expressed the sentiments of the locals in this article.

OUR NEW BRIDGE OVER THE TUOLUMNE

     The new Stanislaus County bridge across the Tuolumne River at this place is pronounced by contractors and travelers alike to be one of the best in the state and words of praise and admiration fall from those who see it for the first time.

     The bridge is of solid concrete and is an important link of the main State Highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco.  There is hardly a minute of the day that there are not at least two vehicles passing over the bridge.  The bridge is over 800 feet long and is of a most artistic finish, the design pleasing in every way. 

     Contractor Cotton deserves credit for the beautiful structure, but County Engineer Annear is the man whose dream is realized with the opening of the bridge to traffic.  For five years Mr. Annear has been figuring on this bridge, making designs and planning for its construction with the least inconvenience to the traveling public and with the least burden to the taxpayers.  During the construction period he has given his careful attention and, in this bridge, as in all the road work, the taxpayers of the county can be assured they are getting their money’s worth while Annear is on the job.  He is not the most popular man in the county with the contractors, but under his eye, they live up to the letter of their contracts.