Abandoned bridge pier

The China Street Bridge -- the first bridge across the Brazos River at Brazoria -- was a wood-decked center-pivot structure constructed in 1912. On the east bank, it connected to the old road to Bailey's Prairie, now State Highway FM 521 (the original route is still visible through the forest east of the river). On the west bank, the bridge connected to China Street in Brazoria.

The bridge collapsed into the river during the 1930s during a period of high water, apparently due to failure of the west pier. The center-pivot pier is all that remains today. Although it was once in the center of the river, erosion of the west bank and deposition on the east bank has moved the river westerly, with the result that the pier is no longer in the center of the river.

A new highway bridge, the Brazoria Bridge, was built in 1939 about 0.25 miles south.

Historic 1913 photo of the original center-pivot bridge:
i17.photobucket.com/albums/b85/Cable77422/1913-Photo-1....

The abandoned pier at normal water level (left) and during a period of high water (right): i17.photobucket.com/albums/b85/Cable77422/Pier0.jpg

Source: Historical Markers Guide: Brazoria County
www.texas-settlement.org/markers/brazoria/19.html