The Fred Hartman Bridge, named for the editor and publisher of the Baytown Sun from 1950 to 1974, is the longest cable-stayed bridge in Texas, being only one of four such bridges in this state. Construction on this bridge began in 1986 and took about nine years to complete. After it opened, the previous conveyance across the ship channel, the Baytown tunnel with a clearance for ship traffic above it at 40 feet was removed in September 1999 and deepened the water depth to 45 feet and a width at about 530 feet.

The bridge is located over the entrance to the Houston Ship Channel between Baytown, Texas and LaPorte, Texas on SH 146 and SH Loop 99 in Harris County.

Awake, dress, walk inside and boil some water for hot tea. Then I sit down at the table to check my com, after which, I begin pounding keys while sipping my hot tea. At eight-thirty, Barry comes into the kitchen to join me but first, takes Bella, his dog out to the back yard to go pee. Then, after we are both at the table, we continue out story telling and other discussions until about eleven this morning at which time I pack out to the jammer to continue my journey to the bottom of Texas.

Barry joins me outside and we only talk for a short time longer before I back out of the driveway, drive out of the housing subdivision and find my way to SH 146 where I turn south towards the Fred Hartman bridge. With my phone in a holder attached to the windshield, I am able to to use one hand to push the camera snap button and acquire a couple of photos of the bridge even though they are not the best quality. This will be my first photos of a cable-stayed bridge that I have taken and will have to create a new location for this bridge on my web site.