Paddock Viaduct
Also known as: Main Street Bridge
Why it's listed
Paddock Viaduct, also known as the Main Street Bridge, carries traffic over the Trinity River between downtown Fort Worth and the city's northern area. Built between 1912 and 1914, it is 1,752 feet long and rises 99 feet above the riverbed. Its main spans are three-hinged, ribbed reinforced concrete arches, joined by girder spans and earth fills held by retaining walls. The roadway was 54 feet wide, enough for four wagons and two streetcars abreast. Brenneke and Fay of St. Louis designed it, and Hannan-Heckley Brothers Construction Company built it for $386,141.28, paid for by a city bond issue. The nomination highlights its self-supporting steel reinforcement, which held its own weight while concrete was poured around it, so no falsework was needed in the river. It describes the viaduct as the first large bridge of this type in the United States. Apart from new curbs, railings and lamp poles added in 1965, it remains largely as built.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that it was the first large bridge in the United States to use self-supporting reinforcement for its concrete arches, which removed the need for falsework in the riverbed. Similar structures had been built in Europe since 1897. It has also given downtown Fort Worth dependable access to the northern part of the city since 1914.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76002068, listed March 15, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Fort Worth |
|---|---|
| County | Tarrant County |
| Listed | March 15, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002068 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1912-14 |
| Architect / builder | Brennke and Fay, Consulting Engrs. (builder: Hannan-Heckley Brothers Construction Company of St. Louis) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, essentially as completed in 1914, with only superficial changes: street railway tracks removed in the 1940s, and new curbs, railings and lighting poles added in 1965. Still in use for transportation. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 32.76006, -97.33497 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76002068.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7123371
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.