dbmiller
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Last set from my recent vacation. The Rock Island Arsenal sits on an island in the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa. Bridges from the Illinois side come from both Rock Island and Moline, with the main bridge spanning the Mississippi going from the island over to Davenport, Iowa. This last span is known as either the Goverment Bridge, or the Arsenal Bridge. It is situated at Lock and Dam #15 on the Mississippi, and has a rotating span to move boats through. If you get stuck waiting for the draw span, you could be looking at a half-hour wait to cross the bridge.
In my younger days, access to the island was barely restricted. You could always cross from Rock Island to Davenport without issue, and still can. The Moline bridge went onto the main arsenal, and if you were going to the cemetery or the park, you told the guard at the gate where you were headed and they let you pass. Nowadays, they scan the driver's license of everyone in the car and run security checks before letting you pass. When the National alert level is high, you may not be able to get on the island at all unless you work there.
First shot, the span is open, a barge has come through (off camera to the right), but didn't completely fit in the lock. The barge had to be disengaged from it's load and back out to go through in several sections.
Same shot, done in B & W, which seems only fitting for a bridge this old:
The span closing with cars waiting to cross over to Davenport:
The clock tower and storehouse, now the home of the Rock Island District of the Corps of Engineers:
A small section of the cemetery:
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In my younger days, access to the island was barely restricted. You could always cross from Rock Island to Davenport without issue, and still can. The Moline bridge went onto the main arsenal, and if you were going to the cemetery or the park, you told the guard at the gate where you were headed and they let you pass. Nowadays, they scan the driver's license of everyone in the car and run security checks before letting you pass. When the National alert level is high, you may not be able to get on the island at all unless you work there.
First shot, the span is open, a barge has come through (off camera to the right), but didn't completely fit in the lock. The barge had to be disengaged from it's load and back out to go through in several sections.
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Same shot, done in B & W, which seems only fitting for a bridge this old:
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The span closing with cars waiting to cross over to Davenport:
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The clock tower and storehouse, now the home of the Rock Island District of the Corps of Engineers:
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A small section of the cemetery:
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