Clement C. Clay Bridge

The Clement C. Clay Bridge (CC Clay Bridge or Whitesburg Bridge) is a twin bridge over the Tennessee River just south of Huntsville in the northern part of Alabama. The bridge was named after former Alabama Governor and US Senator Clement Comer Clay.

Clement C. Clay Bridge
Aerial view of the bridge in 2014
Coordinates	34°34′34″N 86°34′01″W
Carries	US 231
Crosses	Tennessee River
Locale	Huntsville
Official name	CC Clay Bridge
Other name(s)	Whitesburg Bridge
Named for	Clement C. Clay
Preceded by	Whites Ferry
Characteristics
Design	Cantilever truss
History
Opened	1931
Location

The bridge carries US-231 and unsigned SR-53 between the Huntsville Metropolitan Area and the Decatur Metropolitan Area. Before the 1952 extension of US-231, the bridge carried SR-38. North of the bridge, US-231 is known as Memorial Parkway.

History

Postcard of the 1931 span alone

The bridge in 2004, with the 1931 span in front of the 1965 span

The bridge in 2025, with the 2006 concrete span in front of the 1965 span

The original bridge a cantilever truss single span, was built in 1931, replacing Whites Ferry which crossed the river at nearby Ditto Landing.

The second cantilever truss span was constructed in 1965. Upon completion, the newer span carried southbound traffic while the original span carried northbound traffic.

The 1931 span was replaced by a reinforced concrete structure, which opened in June 2006. Demolition of the original span began on August 16, 2006.^[1]