The 1915 Fine Gold Creek Bridge (Madera County)

The 1915 Fine Gold Creek Bridge is an early era arch concrete structure found alongside modern Madera County Road 200. The structure was modeled as a smaller scale of the 1905 Pollasky Bridge (still in ruins at the San Joaquin River) and was one of many early twentieth century improvements to what was then known as the Fresno-Fresno Flats Road. The 1915-era bridge was replaced with a modernized concrete span during 1947 but was never demolished. The original concrete structure can be still found sitting in the brush north of the 2023 Fine Gold Creek Bridge.

Part 1; the history of the 1915 Fine Gold Creek Bridge

The 1915 Fine Gold Creek Bridge lies near the site of the former mining community of Fine Gold. Mining claims were staked at Fine Gold during the Mariposa War during 1850. The community was never very large but became a stopping point on the stage road between the original Fresno County seat at Millerton and Fresno Flats (now Oakhurst). The stage road eventually bypassed Millerton when the Fresno County seat was moved to Fresno in 1874.

The Fine Gold Post Office can be seen on the Fresno-Fresno Flats Road on the 1882 Bancroft's Map of California. During 1893 Madera County would be formed from what was Fresno County north of the San Joaquin River.

During 1902 W.A. Ellis was elected as Madera County Surveyor. The condition of the Fresno-Fresno Flats Road was one of the first corridors his office sought to improve upon during his tenure. This culminated with construction of the arch concrete Pollasky Bridge over the San Joaquin River at Pollasky (now Friant). Said structure was completed by January 7, 1906 (courtesy Andrea Reed of Madera County History).

The Pollasky Bridge was one of the first arch concrete spans constructed in California. The structure was featured in the 1913 era book titled "The Concrete Bridge."

The Pollasky would form the model which Madera County would base their bridges designs for the next decade. The structure would be pressed into service as the temporary alignment of California State Route 41 in 1940 following the collapse of the Lanes Bridge. The Pollasky Bridge was destroyed by flooding during 1951, but the ruins can still be found today on the Madera County side of the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam.

A bridge carrying the Fresno-Fresno Flats Road over Fine Gold Creek west of Mountain View Peak can be seen present on the 1912 United States Geological Survey Map of Mariposa. The vintage and design of the structure seen here is not known.

The Fine Creek Gold Bridge near Fine Gold was one of one hundred and two highway spans considered by the at the June 5, 1914, Madera County Supervisors meeting. The structure would be completed by 1915 and opened to traffic (courtesy Andrea Reed).

The 1915 Fine Gold Creek Bridge would be mentioned in the February 12, 1915, Madera Mercury (courtesy Andrea Reed) in an article titled "INJURED MAN FELL FROM THE FINE GOLD BRIDGE."

"Thomas Burns, who fell from the new county bridge over Fine Gold Creek last Friday, and severely sprained the ligaments of his left leg, is recovering from his injuries. R. B. Rogers who brought Burns down Friday night said he was suffering great pain at the time. Burns was removing the trestle work from the completed bridge, when in cutting the seme wires, he appeared to have cut himself loose from the structure. He fell about 20 feet and landed upon a boulder."

Andrea Reeds' grandfather can be seen crossing the 1915 Fine Gold Creek Bridge in an undated photo.

An undated photo of the 1915 Fine Gold Creek Bridge (courtesy Andrea Reed) displays the facade similarities to the Pollasky Bridge. The photo is likely from 1914 or 1915 given falsework is still present.

During 1947 the 1915-era Find Gold Creek Bridge was replaced with a then modernized concrete structure. This span was one of the many improvements which straightened what is now Madera County Road 200 between O'Neals and North Fork.

The 1947-era Fine Gold Creek Bridge can be seen in a photo taken during 2017 below. The grade approaching the 1915-era structure can be seen to the right.

During May 2022 construction of a new bridge at Fine Gold Creek and would be completed by May 2023. The project corridor included the demolition of the 1947-era span, but did not affect the 1915-era structure.

Part 2; a visit to the 1915 Fine Gold Creek Bridge

The 1915-era Fine Gold Creek Bridge can be found along the southbound lane of Madera County Road 200 approaching the 2023-era structure. The modern bridge partially obstructed the 1915 span due to fill that was used to raise it higher over Fine Gold Creek. The steel bar present below once prevented traffic from driving directly off the grade of the 1947-era span.

Portland Cement can be seen atop the 1915 Fine Gold Creek Bridge along with the western footing. Portland Cement was often used during the construction of California Highway Commission owned roads during the 1909-1919 First-Third State Highway Bond Act eras. The presence of the surfacing tends to suggest that Madera County likely received state aid for construction.