Half Chance Iron Bridge

32°18′50″N 87°42′14″W / 32.314°N 87.704°W / 32.314; -87.704CrossesChickasaw Bogue CreekLocaleHalf Chance, AlabamaOfficial nameHalf Chance Iron BridgeCharacteristicsDesigntied-arch bridgeMaterialWrought ironWidth12 feet (3.7 m)Longest span100 feet (30 m)HistoryConstructed byKing Bridge CompanyConstruction end1880 LocationMarengo County, Alabama, United StatesNearest cityDayton, AlabamaCoordinates32°18′44″N 87°42′04″W / 32.31222°N 87.70111°W / 32.31222; -87.70111Arealess than one acreBuilt1880ArchitectKing Iron Bridge Manufacturing CompanyNRHP reference No.72000166^[1][2]Added to NRHPSeptember 14, 1972 Location

The Half Chance Iron Bridge, also known as the Half-Chance Bridge, is a historic single-span wrought iron bridge located near the small community of Half Chance, between the towns of Linden and Dayton in rural Marengo County, Alabama. It is on Marengo County Road 39 over Chickasaw Bogue Creek.^[1] The bridge is the oldest surviving iron bridge in Alabama, making it an important transportation and engineering landmark for the state.^[1]

County Road 39 has been moved over the years. The Half Chance Iron Bridge is approximately 1/4 mi. to the South and on private property.

Half Chance Iron Bridge is a 12-foot (3.7 m) wide tied-arch bridge with a span of 100 feet (30 m). It was built by the King Iron Bridge Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio in 1880.^[1] King Iron Bridge Manufacturing Company was founded in 1871 by Zenas King. As early as 1878 it was manufacturing many types of truss, combination, and wooden bridges and by the 1880s it was the largest highway bridge work in the United States.^[3]

The bridge was reported as destroyed in a flood between 2008 and 2012. The structure no longer exists.^[4]

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