By: Jillian Becquet Photo courtesy of: Corpus Christi Public Libraries
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When it opened in 1926, crowds of onlookers turned out to view thebrBascule (derived from the French word for seesaw) rise and descendbrto allow ships to pass into the Port of Corpus Christi. The bridge wasbr121 feet long and 52 feet wide, and its two electric motors easily raisedbrit 141 feet in the air. It took between 12 and 30 minutes for a vessel tobrpass…which was plenty of time to appreciate the engineering, or tobrbecome impatient.br
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Almost immediately after opening, it was clear that a new, higherbrbridge would be needed. 183 wrecks were recorded because shipsbrcouldn’t navigate through the tight passage, and regularly scraped orbrcrashed into parts of the bridge and its controls.br
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As the 1950s began, a new bridge was a necessity. Some wanted tobrbuild a high bridge like the Harbor Bridge; others, like Mayor Albertbr
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Lichtenstein, wanted a tunnel. And he wanted a tunnel so badly thatbran argument about it at City Council resulted in him resigning asbrmayor.br
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The Department of Highways offered $9 million for a bridge, nothingbrfor a tunnel, and the decision was made. The Harbor Bridge we allbrknow today opened October 23, 1959, and was expected to last thebrnext 50 years. It is 5,818 feet long, 250 feet above the water, with 138brfeet of vertical clearance. It weighs 155 million pounds, and quicklybrbecame known as “Napoleon’s Hat” for its distinctive shape.br
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Happy 60 years, Harbor Bridge. You’ve served us well.br
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