Picture of the day - January 26, 2006

Avens Bridge

Avens Bridge is a long, narrow, steel construction bridge that spans South Holston Lake in rural Washington County, Va. After the completion of South Holston Dam in 1950, the higher water levels blocked roads in many areas that had been used for decades. One of these roads provided easy access from the Abingdon, Virginia and Bristol, VA-TN areas to Denton's Valley. Avens Bridge was constructed to allow that traffic to once again cross the lake. Today, Avens Bridge is a well-known southwestern Virginia landmark. Boaters and water skiers use the bridge as a navigational aide and the lakeshores under and around the bridge are very popular with fisherman. Most days when the weather is nice you will see cars parked near the bridge while their owners are sitting nearby with fishing poles in hand. Although it is located just a few minutes drive from historic Abingdon, when you're in the vicinity of Avens Bridge you're definitely "out in the country"! Lakeshore development is leading to many new residential communities in that part of the county, but by and large it is still a very rural area. My wife and I had just picked up our granddaughter Olivia at school when we decided to take the long way home and drive across Avens Bridge. The sun was sinking low in the sky but I stopped to take a picture anyway. I snapped off a few shots and the result is today's picture.   Picture Of The Day Homepage | Submit a photo Interesting Articles