Tom
I visited the steel truss bridge in Brooksburg last week and it's still holding its own. I'll get some pictures posted winthin the next couple of days.
There is a brand new concrete deck bridge here now (11-26-07).
This bridge was closed to severe damage from vandalism. I have the article in the "Blount Countian" that gave specifics, though I don't have it with me. It was something akin to vandals tying a rope to a main beam and the other end to their vehicle and yanking everything out of whack so bad it was and still is unsafe. Unfortunately, I left the article at my mom's, but I will update when I have specifics.
All I can say is it amazes me how mean, spiteful, idiotic, stupid, etc. etc. people can be. Blount County has already lost one historic covered bridge (the Nectar Bridge) to vandals (fire). I can only hope this US record holder (highest covered bridge over water) can be fixed eventually.
I live in Baton Rouge so we never take this route. But I am proud to have the worlds longest bride in my state.
I have spent alot of time on this bridge fishing...lots of great fishing in the springtime especially...often during spring floods, the south approach is under water while the north is dry...
Bridge replaced by through girder span in 2003
If I am correct this bridge was used in a scene of the movie "In the Heat of the Night," during which a prisoner is seen being being chased from "Mississippi" into "Arkansas".
The movie is set in the town of Sparta, Ms., which in the movie the town of Sparta, Il. was where the filming took place.
This is bridge 6533159. It is still there, and it is spectacular. See it quickly, though. It's scheduled to be removed in 2008.
View of the bridge from the bluff near the Amelia Earhart Historic Home in April 2007. The Amelia Earhart Highway bridge is in the background.
Here is a photo of the first bridge from a canoe heading downstream in Aug 2003. We were happy to reach the bridge, it was a long hot pull from Parkville.
From the Corps of Engineers Kansas City District History of the Missouri River Navigation Project "Soundings" published in 1986 -- The cutoff began in 1947. A 10 feet wide by 15 feet channel was cut, with the river expected to erode it to 1,000 feet wide. When completed in 1949, it cutoff 4.7 miles of river channel. The bridge was built before the cuttof began.
I have attached a scan of a postcard I believe is the original bridge to Liberty before the cutoff.
I went over this bridge today. It's in good shape. The road was muddy and I didn't attempt to go farther north. Had to back up the way I came in.
This is a very nice and beautiful bridge. Great architecture.
A couple of photos for your collection. These were both shot for HAER and are in the public domain. photos by James Norman for HAER.
Pictures taken 11-9-07.
Pictures taken 11-9-07.
Pictures taken 11-9-07.
Pictures taken 9-11-07
Pictures taken 9-11-07.
The Woolsey bridge has reopened with a 3 ton weight limit.
East View at Totten Ford Bridge (#1300004)
fairdealing is like 10 mi. from harville
I think this is a pretty bridge and would like to walk on it! bridges fascinate me to no end and I am NOT scared to walk on ANY bridge.My local bridge bounces when semi trucks and buses cross,but ALL steel bridges do this.I checked with MN DOT and it is simply flexing.Ours flexes so hard,it has knocked me on my butt,I continue to walk on it as I am used to it and just hold the rail to keep from falling.It is when they DON'T flex you SHOULD worry,like 35w quit doing before it collapsed.Even wittnessing it's demise didn't really scare me.I feel saddened by it and sad for those poor people!! But it won't kill my fascination for bridges!!My niece LOVES it when we bounce and bugs me for a stroll to "our bridge" by the way-I posted it here! It is under-kettle river bridge #5718.A nice pratt deck truss in a1 condition!!
I saw this bridge back in 1979 when I visited cousins in MO. Since then I've only seen one other in New Hampshire. I live in California and I doubt we have any in this state. I'm glad to see that it and the mill are still standing. I will have to share this picture with my brother who was with me on that trip.
What was the purpose of this bridge when they first built it? Did they know it would become a historic landmark?
Here are two old, undated photos of the bridge, each of which is in very poor condition. Handwritten on the back of each print is the following: "Morrow River Bridge near Jefferson City, Mo."
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
Hooray! The Silver Bridge is back open as of Firday the 9th of November 2007. There wasn't much of a ceremony, but the local newspaper The Spectator was there and did a story on it in the Nov.14th, 2007 edition.
There is now a new weight limit of 3 tons or 6000 pounds for the bridge. Hopefully people will abide by it so as to prolong it's life a little longer.
Long Live the Silver Bridge!
When was this bridge decomissioned and closed to auto traffic?
Why is it classified as "Structurally Deficient?"
Why did it receive a sufficiency rating of 10.1/100?
Where can I go to find all of this information?
Thank you.
Here is a scan of a post card of the bridge before the second bridge was added.
Another one bites the dust! After a long fight by locals, the Bear Creek Bridge is being replaced by a modern bridge. When I saw it the flooring and plaques had been removed, preparatory to demolition.
This was one of the most picturesque bridges in the county. It was in a country setting, where is crossed the millpond above the dam at the site of one of the earliest gristmills in the county. The mill is gone but the dam remains. I am deeply saddened by the demise of this bridge.
I drove this road recently. This bridge is actually a Warren welded.
I have pix.
Is it strange to miss an old bridge? Sure wish I could have gotten more pictures of it. I could have gotten the old plaque that was broken off the year before it was brought down, but someone beat me to it. I did manage to retrieve a little piece of the bridge. It was the only thing I could pick up out of the pile. It's hanging on a nail in my barn. Plan on engraving the bridge's name and dates on it. I brushed it off a little bit and found that before it was painted silver, it was orange. Would've liked to seen that.
Been across this bridge a few times on my motorcycle. It's a neat stretch of old 60.
it was open since 1912. two lane on traffic and parking lot on bridge. it was destruction date late summer 2004. it was new four lane and open on traffic. no parking on the bridges anymore. THANK YOU.
According to the 1897 Sanborn map of Little Rock, this bridge was the first main street bridge which was replaced by the lost seven-span open-spandrel arch bridge that was replaced in 1973.
It's great that the bridge is being rebuilt, especially in the light of the projected -up -to one Billion dollar price tag of a new bridge.
It's just too bad that the McKinley doesn't go anywhere worthwhile, especially heading East.
The old abutment pictured is for the old Union Pacific railroad grade. You can follow it for about a mile where it meets up with the current track
This bridge is in really sad shape. As of today, they have put orange barrels along the rails because the curbing is gone and all the rebar is visible. Just to the north you can see an old bridge abutment for the Union Pacific railroad.
You can see some of the ironwork of one of the approches just east of Rothville on Chariton county road E.
They moved the road a few years ago but the abutments are still there.
I ¢¾ this Bridge ...I did my report on it...
I ¢¾ this Bridge ...I did my report on it...
Pictures taken 10-01-2006
James,
Thanks for sharing the information on these bridges.
The picture is misleading. The bridge is a metal truss. The approach spans area Pratt through trusses and the turn span is a Warren through truss. The wood seen on the pratts are supports for the roadway deck on top of the bridge. The roadway is the reason for the extra wood piers under the pratts. The roadway was removed around 1900 and the bridge stayed intacted until the late 1960s when the turnspan was replaced as part of the Arkansas River Nav. Project.
I might note too that this bridge is one of the 3 Daniel Luten designed bridges in Cass County, built to replace structures lost in the great flood of 1913.
This is known as the old "Cass Station Bridge". Bridge is a popular fishing spot, when it is mowed that is. I live a half mile away and use the bridge occasionally while biking. There is a hole forming on the South side of the bridge about 30 feet from the South approach on the West side of the bridge next to the sidewall. Vegetation grows very well over the old asphalt, as seen in the photos above. Check out the huge rock formation, the Council Rock, off of the old road that ends at the South bridge approach. This was a Indian gathering place, as well as French traders, who noted it's unusual appearance way back in the 1700's. The Cass Station moniker comes from the old Interuban line that at one time passed just North of the bridge, featuring a station stop nearby called of course Cass Station. The old ROW for that line is now "Coonhunter's Road". CR 600 East will be under reconstruction starting Spring 2008, lasting until November 2008, so be aware. The bridges will be uneffected.
This bridge is one of 3 in our county designed by Daniel Luten, an early 20th century bridge designer from Indiana who had taught at Purdue. The others are the CR 600 East Bridge over the Wabash(single lane, closed, newer structure beside it), the the 3rd Street/Indiana 17 bridge over the Eel River in Downtown Logansport. All three were built to replace structures lost in the great flood of 1913. The Lewisburg bridge is being widened to two 12 foot lanes instead of the old single lane it had before. Locals have had only one way out of their town since it's closure. The newer structure mentioned in a previous comment is the US 24 Hoosier Heartland Corridor and was responsible for closing one of the original 3 byways into Lewisburg as that road was excavated and dead ended when preparing the approaches for the US 24 bridges. The Lewisburg bridge has hit a snag as of November 2007 because the contractor has asked for an extension and the county is recommending the state turn their request down. Here is a link to the local newspapers story, http://www.pharostribune.com/local/local_story_313190703.html
In case it is not available for future use, here is the copied and pasted story.
Lewisburg bridge completion delayed
County recommending that INDOT deny contractor’s request for extension.
by Kevin Lilly
Residents and visitors of Lewisburg will have to wait up to seven months longer to cross the bridge into town over the Wabash River.
Jack Isom Construction, the contractor restoring the Lewisburg bridge, failed to complete the project on time, reportedly because of weather conditions, and has asked for an extension until June 30, 2008. The bridge was scheduled to be finished Oct. 31.
Cass County Engineer Jodi Coblentz informed the commissioners on Monday that the highway department is fighting to get the extension request denied because officials believe Jack Isom Construction did not take all possible measures to ensure the project was completed on time.
“They are still working, but it’s still the same slow crew that we’ve had all summer,” Coblentz told commissioners.
At the meeting, Commissioner Steve Kain asked about weather and if it was possible to complete the bridge this year.
“It’s not so much the weather,” Coblentz said. “It’s just they have so much to do.”
Isom has yet to provide a sample of the custom concrete balusters for the bridge railing. The design and material must match 1913 style and get approved. Coblentz said they have been waiting over a year, and a bridge with no railing cannot be used.
“Without the bridge rails we cannot let traffic over it,” Coblentz said.
The bridge requires more than 800 balusters, none of which are installed.
Isom Construction has completed the north portion of deck on the bridge and a majority of the underneath. A crew is pouring concrete for the south portion of deck this week.
The $2 million project is 75.6 percent complete, according to the most recent progress report.
The company’s primary reason for being behind schedule is high water levels, cold temperatures and snow.
“This severely limited our ability to perform pier reconstruction or temporary supports,” wrote Bill Isom in the request letter dated Oct. 26.
From Nov. 13, 2006, through June 4, Isom Construction only worked a handful of hours, according to the request letter from the contractor.
“I have two of the best foreman in the state working this project but because of the restrictions due to design, water levels, cold temperature and redesign that were not within our control, I am asking for an extension to the completion date,” Isom wrote.
Coblentz said she saw this coming.
“We knew they weren’t going to meet it, but their schedule said they were,” Coblentz said. “They just didn’t follow their schedule.”
The county sent a letter to the Indiana Department of Transportation explaining why the extension should not be granted. INDOT has yet to respond, according to Coblentz.
In the meantime, project supervisor Casey Lynch responded to Jack Isom Construction in a letter dated Nov. 5 stating the extension to the contract would not be granted at this time. Lynch, who is employed by both the county and INDOT as quality control, instructed Isom what to include if he resubmitted the request.
The company is expected to explain why the project was scheduled to begin Sept. 5, 2006, but no one showed up to work on it until 61 days later. The county also wants to know what measures will be taken to regain those days and complete the project in a timely manner.
Currently payment is being withheld until a “complete and realistic” work schedule is submitted. Also, Jack Isom Construction began incurring liquidated damages at a rate of $1,500 per day on Nov. 1, which will accumulate until an extension is granted.
INDOT is aware of the contractor’s request. As of Thursday morning, they had not responded.
Besides inconvenience to residents, the delay is increasing the cost of the project, which is a big concern, says Coblentz.
Restoring the bridge is paid for through 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent local bridge funds. Most engineering on the project was paid for with a transportation enhancement grant, which is used for historic bridges.
INDOT and the county will likely pass the extra expense along to Isom Construction, Coblentz said.
In September 2005, a portion of the 94-year-old span fell into the Wabash. The bridge is 452 feet long and has not been repaired since 1986. The restoration is designed to add at least 50 years of life to the bridge.
One of three
Engineers want to preserve the character of the 1913 bridge because of its historic significance.
“We’re restoring it to as close to as original 1913 as possible,” Coblentz said.
The Lewisburg bridge is the oldest of three Luten bridges remaining in the county and one of only 51 statewide. The other two are the old Cass Station Road Bridge over the Wabash, just west of the existing bridge on 600E, and the Third Street Bridge over the Eel River in Logansport.
The Luten arch was designed by Daniel Luten, an early 20th century bridge designer from Indiana who taught at Purdue University.
Coblentz said the Lewisburg bridge is endorsed by the National Landmark Historical Society, the National Registry of Historic Places and Historic Bridges of Indiana.
Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com
Photos taken 8-13-05
I am glad Judge Hall has had time to think about it and change his mind. I would like to change my mind also and retract all my negative comments made here.
Just in case anyone is wondering. The reconstruction that took place on this bridge was done after a terrible flood. A Trailer(manufactured home) washed down the Sylamore Creek and absolutely destroyed it. The only thing there was the cables going down into the water and a huge pile of debris. I was about 14 at the time and tried to climb across the wreckage and fell about 15 feet to the water below. It was almost completely rebuilt and was in working condition the last time I was there. The bridge is located in the Holiday Travel Park. My Family owns all the surruonding property and it has been a cherished landmark to me for as long as I can remember. The Mountain View area has always been one of the most beautiful areas in the world to me but then again,what is my basis for comparison? Memphis?
07/15/07
11/3/07. In better light.
I rode a motorcycle over that bridge many times, always made me nervous.
i went to stuckey's bridge friday night (November 9 at like 11 pm) and nothing happened. i was at a birthday party and her mom scared us really bad by getting 2 people to scare us... other than that nothing happened. when i heard about it i didnt want to go but i went with them and nothing happened. its stupid so if you think its haunted then go and see if you die cause he might have been hung on the bridge but there is no such things as ghosts... so STOP thinking there is!! i get scared at stuff like that but im not thinking... here's some things you can think about...
1. there's no such thing as ghosts
2. God is always with you whether you die or not
Just thought you might like to see a shot I took on this bridge in the late 1960's. Of course as a young man I was more interested in it being an interesting background for my photo of the girl.
11/04/07
11/04/07
11/04/07
11/04/07
11/04/07
11/04/07
10/28/07
10/28/07
10/28/07
10/28/07
11/4/07 Bridge is closed
11/04/07 Bridge is closed
11/04/07
8/11/07
I was just at the bridge October 28th. We walked the bridge with the fourth generation Kliethermes'. I hope Mrs. Wills knows a way to save this bridge, if not for anything but the view and the memories. The bridge is getting into worse condition due to lack of repair. My uncle has repaired the broken boards himself for years, but since it is scheduled to be torn down he hasn't done any repairs. A few new boards and this bridge would definitely be OK for walking traffic. Thank you for all the comments, my grandfather would be surprised to see how many people care about "his" bridge.
This would be an attempt to speculate "Where is this bridge NOW??"
When the Arkansas River Navigation program was going on, almost all bridges across the Arkansas River in the navigation channel had to be replaced, or rarely, raised to allow for the future barge traffic. We think we know that this bridge was composed of trusses from the pre-1913 Frisco railroad bridge spanning the Arkansas river at Van Buren. At least the trusses appear to be identical in style.
Of course the navigation project required this bridge to be replaced. The question is, what became of the trusses then? It was common for steel truss style bridge elements to be reused. Indeed the Morrilton Bridge trusses were "used" when the Morrilton bridge was installed. I think "maybe" I have found one of the smaller pratt style trusses that composed the Fort Smith entrance to this former railroad bridge. It is located on a county road in Oklahoma, about 30 miles from Fort Smith, Arkansas. Since this "may" have been an Arkansas bridge at one point I am attaching a photo. Also I am attaching an old postcard view of the Frisco bridge looking from the Fort Smith side, so you can compare the construction of the trusses. The lattice work from the portals is missing, replaced with simple portal braces.
This was originally a wooden truss bridge with a swing span. Railroad traffic went thru the truss, and vehicle traffic on top of the truss.
Attached is a photo of the original bridge under construction.
As far as my buddy and I can determine, this bridge is no more. Gone. On CR 700, there is a new concrete stringer bridge now. I would love to be proved wrong, however we did drive down all surrounding roads just to be sure.
This bridge (the pony trusses) are much older than 1970. The story is that the bridge was removed from a nearby road, and in 1970 was widened and installed in its present location.
Will have photos shortly to submit.
The Horton Mill Covered Bridge was reported closed to motor traffic on September 27, 2007 due to unsafe conditions. I was at the bridge in late October and noticed truss damage on the west side of the bridge. The Blount Countian did a news article about the closing, so I will get with them in regards to a better reason at to a cause. So far, no maintenance work has been done to the bridge...most likely due to no money set aside for repairs since it was an unscheduled event. Therefore, the bridge remains closed to motor traffic.
Veterans' Glass City Skyway replaces the Craig Memorial Bridge as the crossing of I-280 over the Maumee River. It's not yet an historic bridge, beyond ODOT's claim that "single project ever undertaken by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)!" Begun in April 1999, it opened to traffic in 2007.
GPS: 41.660569,-83.511779
I grew up in this area and walked and rode across this bridge countless times. It never occurred to me to be scared...it was just the bridge we had to cross to get to Des Arc. I remember riding in trailers filled with cotton and being pulled by a tractor across this bridge and feeling the swaying of the bridge...not sure I would do that today if I could. I too feel a degree of sadness with the bridge being gone...it's like a piece of my childhood disappeared.
Written on the back of this old, undated photograph: "Covered Bridge near Paris Mo". I am reasonably certain it is an image of the Union Covered Bridge, showing it at a time when it was in a state of disrepair.
Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.
Crawford County Judge John Hall has apparently changed his mind about the Silver Bridge. He told me the county IS doing some work on the bridge.
Hall said he recognizes that wherever the boundary of the counties lies, citizens of BOTH rely on the bridge for a more efficient and safer way to go between the two.
Here's one picture I took when it was getting dark....more and better to follow from friend in the area soon I hope.
Bridge is known as The Mathews Bridge
http://www.mathewsbridge.info/index.html
Rehabilatated 2007
Contractor PCL Civil
Steel Supplier Florida Structural Steel
More pictures of the Romeo Road bridge. Also known as 135th street bridge, which is relocated immediately adjacent to it's old location across the canal. Now the 100 year old swing bridge is preserved on a nature path parallel to and very near the canal, in the shadow of it's modern replacement bridge. It is a beautiful location and they did a great job preserving this fine example of swing bridges that used to cross the canal. The last two pictures are of the end of the bridge just where it connects to the roadway. I think it is what used to be the centering and locking device. I was totally facinated by these swing bridges when I was a kid....and now to see it so up close is still thrilling this many years later. Back then, it was "stay away....too dangerous". Now, anyone can check it out.
Recently visited this bridge, now on the Romeoville side of the canal, about 30 miles SW of Chicago Il. Here are some of the pictures.
11/03/07
The Silver Bridge is one of a very unique value in the fact that it spans 2 counties. Franklin and Crawford. What also is very unique is the fact that the past Crawford County Judge Jerry Williams and present Franklin County Judge Joe Powell stood in the middle of Silver Bridge posing for a photo published in the local newspapers for the taxpaying citizens of both counties to see as a testament to their dedication to seeing that this VERY HISTORIC but VERY USEFUL Bridge was to be preserved for the public to use and enjoy.
Fast forward to the year 2007 and one will see that the AHTD closed this bridge b/c of the structural deficiences documented in their inspections. State monies were applied for and received by Franklin County and work was promptly begun. Newly elected Crawford County Judge John Hall personally has made a whirlwind discovery and publicly announced in OCT. 2007 that the SILVER BRIDGE is NOT in Crawford Co. but entirely in Franklin and that funds would not be supplied by his county to help rehab this bridge.
One could call this announcement many things like: dumb, short-sighted, un-informed, or just plain ignorant, but that would be lacking of respect for such a highly respected office as the CRAWFORD COUNTY JUDGE, so we shall NOT do it here.........
BUT if one looks at history that has been in place since way before any of the modern-day players were born, one would see that the CENTERLINE or THREAD of the wild and scenic MULBERRY RIVER IS the boundary line between FRANKLIN and CRAWFORD counties. There is NO amount of non-willingness to pay for it's ownership and part of the SILVER BRIDGE rehab can change the facts of history. A special THANK YOU goes out to the HONORABLE Franklin County Judge Joe Powell for his balls-out effort to save not only a piece of long lived history but to dedicate the needed time, effort, equipment, money, intestinal fortitude, and GUTS to stick to his original promise. The taxpayers of both counties that use this bridge as a daily means of transportation will have Joe to thank.
As for the Crawford County side of the Silver Bridge, be sure and ask your judge JOHN HALL to have his county amend the ownership maps of the last century, the hundreds of land deeds based on the Centerline of the Mulberry and reimburse it's Citizens the ill-gotten tax monies it has received since the Counties were established. Surely it will be a cost-effective move since NO monies were used to help REHAB the bridge.
Long live the Silver Bridge.
The Index passenger bridge was just east of the rairoad bridge. It was a narrow through truss bridge. It was lilely no more than 22 feet wide on US59 & 71.
The current bridges one begins in Texas and the other in Arkansas with both ending in Arkansas were mainly built by Texas.
This is a great spot for family picnics and Sunday fishing. We took our kids several times over the years.
Here are pictures I took 10/21/07 of the bridge.
The Guilford Covered Bridge originally had a wooden block floor until the fire in 1993. The floor was a casulity of the fire. I only wish a crew could have cut up new wooden blocks and set them for the floor for the rebuilding. The Darlington Covered Bridge in Montgomery County may still have block floor which I'm not sure.
My wife and me have taken pictures of this bridge.We went bridge hunting one weekend taking pics of bridges.This one we found after running into someone else bridge hunting.
Three views, pre-fire, post-fire, and current day taken by Bill Eichelberger
Photo circa 1986 by Bill Eichelberger
Photo circa 2002 by Bill Eichelberger
Photo by Bill Eichelberger circa 1988
Photo taken circa 1987 by Bill Eichelberger
Photo taken by Bill Eichelberger circa 1989
Photo taken in 1987 by Bill Eichelberger
Another photo of the restoration. Taken in May, 2002 by Bill Eichelberger.
Photo taken in 1987 by Bill Eichelberger
