Bridgehunter.com News

Mid-October news (October 12, 2008)

Todd Baslee sends word that New Franklin, Missouri, will hold an open house at City Hall to discuss the fate of the New Franklin Viaduct. The event is scheduled for Thursday, October 16, from 4-7 PM.
Ken Franke reports that the Old Alton Road Bridge in Oregon County, Missouri, was removed over the summer and sold for scrap.
Demolition of the Liberty Memorial Bridge at Bismarck, North Dakota, is underway with one span removed and two to go. This was the world's only Turner-Warren truss, designed by engineer C.A.P. Turner.
One of the recipients of this year's MacArthur Foundation fellowships is a bridge hunter, of sorts.

October updates (October 5, 2008)

The 2008 edition of the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) was released in mid-September. I'll be incorporating the new data shortly.
A public hearing was held last week to discuss the future of the Boonville Railroad Bridge in Missouri.
The replacement for the bridge at Yankton, South Dakota (named the "Yankton Discovery Bridge") will open October 11. The old Meridian Bridge, a double-decker truss with vertical lift span, will be rehabbed as a pedestrian/bicycle crossing.
Recent additions to the National Register of Historic Places include the Wallace Bridge in Arkansas, the East Delhi Road Bridge in Michigan, and Bagnell Dam in Missouri (the dam, carrying a state highway, is listed with its own bridge number in the NBI).

New Franklin Viaduct in jeopardy (September 24, 2008)

The Highway 5 overpass in New Franklin, Missouri, is unlike any other bridge in rural Missouri. A massive concrete Art Deco-ish viaduct, it rises above the town to cross a former railroad yard, now occupied solely by the Katy Trail. MoDOT wants to remove the bridge entirely, at an estimated cost of $1.3 million, and put the highway on the ground, presumably crossing the Katy Trail at an at-grade crossing. In short, taxpayers will end up paying megabucks to accomplish nothing, while removing an historic landmark and decreasing safety for users of the Katy Trail. What a deal! I would argue that MoDOT could better spend that $1.3 million as a down payment for a bypass of New Franklin, removing heavy traffic from the aging viaduct, while also eliminating the unsafe four-way stop and sharp turn on Highway 5 in the middle of town. Or, if a bypass isn't viable, then at least the highway could be routed along the ground next to the viaduct, while the bridge is preserved for foot traffic in conjunction with the Katy Trail. A petition is circulating in New Franklin to save the viaduct. After witnessing the ongoing fiasco with another nearby Katy Trail landmark, the Boonville Railroad Bridge, maybe residents can nip this foolhardy plan in the bud.

September updates (September 18, 2008)

Fundraising efforts are underway to help preserve the remaining two spans of the Sutliff Bridge in Iowa.
The new I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis has opened to traffic. Despite opening at 5 AM, it seems like half of the city showed up for the occasion.
The fate of Missouri's Boonville Railroad Bridge is still in doubt. What I can't figure out is why Union Pacific hasn't been able to find other bridge spans to use instead of Boonville's. Why not do something with the abandoned railroad bridges over the Kansas River in Kansas City?

The Bridges of Doniphan County, Kansas (September 18, 2008)

There has been some interesting forum discussions about the peculiar truss bridges in Doniphan County, Kansas. The Cottonwood Creek Bridge near Bendena looks like a standard Pratt through truss at first, but it has a really short middle panel that makes it one-of-a-kind. The Duncan Creek Bridge is a Parker through truss, but with only 4 panels and a very short span (86 feet) for its type. Finally, the Branch Missouri River Bridge resembles a Kingpost pony truss, but with subdivided panels closer to a Waddell "A" truss.

My guess is that these bridges were assembled from spare parts taken from other bridges. The strange designs were probably the result of improvising with available materials. A few more truss bridges are listed in the county, so perhaps more surprises are in store.

Fate of Michigan Street Bridge Still In Doubt (September 6, 2008)

Chairman of the Door County Board, Leo Zipperer, has asked Governor Jim Doyle to consider removing the historic Michigan Street Bridge in Sturgeon Bay. He wrote a letter to the governor, suggesting that the state has higher priorities than renovating the 70-year-old bridge. In an interview with WBAY television news (the ABC affiliate in Green Bay) Zipperer said he doesn't want to see the bridge totally removed, just the troublesome bascule span. Sturgeon Bay Alderman Jim Michaud thinks it's ridiculous to tear down the bridge. In in the same report from WBAY Michaud said, "That's the busiest street and the busiest thoroughfare in Door County." While the new Oregon Street Bridge, due to open any day now, will relieve a great deal of traffic from the historical bridge, restoration will keep two extra traffic lanes open across the bay. "You can't spend it in a better place," Michaud said. "To replace it, we now know takes $33 million. To repair it is a $14 million project, so it's money well spent," Michaud said. My Opinion: No one has estimated what it would cost to remove the bridge. As Professor Kevin Patrick of Indiana University of Pennsylvania says, "Bridges are expensive to put up, expensive to maintain, and expensive to tear down." The cost of removing the bridge vs. the incremental cost of renovating the bridge should be considered. Leo Zipperer stated that the money could be better spent due to the current economy. The effects of the economy are short term, while removal of the bridge is permanent. After it's gone, it will be missed and if two extra traffic lanes across the bay are needed, as Jim Michaud said, it will cost $33 million to replace the bridge. That's in 2008 dollars, who knows what it would cost to build a new bridge 10 years from now? Keeping the truss spans but removing the bascule span is about as useful as making a pair of jean cut-offs by keeping the legs and throwing away the shorts. I agree with Michaud, the renovation is money well spent to keep the extra traffic lanes open but that is just the added benefit of preserving a living piece of history, an icon of Sturgeon Bay, Door County and the State of Wisconsin.

"Saving these treasures is not someone else's job!" (September 1, 2008)

Joni Mitchell wrote and recorded a song in 1970, called Big Yellow Taxi which includes these lines in the chorus: Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
'Till it's gone.
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot.* Concerned citizens in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin decided that the time to save a historic bridge is before it's gone. They formed a group called Citizens for our Bridge, Incorporated, an IRS 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization to do just that - save the Michigan Street Bridge from destruction. They have worked tirelessly with the City of Sturgeon Bay, Door County and the State of Wisconsin to save the bridge as not only a historical icon of Sturgeon Bay but a vital link to the economy of downtown Sturgeon Bay. The group even holds an annual all-weekend fund raising event called the annual Steel Bridge Songfest. Shawn Fairchild wrote an excellent paper about the group, the bridge and the efforts to save the through truss and last overhead-truss, Scherzer-type, double-leaf, rolling-lift bascule in the State of Wisconsin. He presented the paper at the Annual Conference of the Society for Industrial Acheology, held in Duluth, Minnesota on June 3, 2000. You can read it right here on the Bridge Hunter Michigan Street Bridge page. In his paper, he quotes Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who said, "Not every community has an Independence Hall, but every single community in America has treasures that make it unique, that make it a special place. Saving these treasures is not someone else's job!" Mr. Fairchild's paper is an excellent guide for how you can go about saving a historical bridge in your area before you learn that "...they paved paradise and put up a parking lot." * - Copyright � Siquomb Publishing Company, 1970

Arkansas updates (August 30, 2008)

Robert Scoggin at the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department sent a copy of his office's latest publication, Atlas of Historic Bridges in Arkansas, which includes information on all of the bridges in Arkansas determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This includes several bridges that I haven't seen before. I've posted some of the new photos and information.
The Black Nursery Road Bridge near Prairie Grove has been nominated for the National Register. This is a 1923 Luten arch. Meanwhile, John Cross has spotted another Luten arch near Prairie Grove, on County Road 20, that hasn't appeared on the radar yet because it is bypassed and abandoned.
The winners of the Great Arkansas Bridge Sweepstakes have been selected. Two pony trusses in Craighead County were made available for adaptive reuse, with the state picking up the cost of relocating them. After they are replaced in 2010, the bridges will go to a girl scout camp and a city park in Jonesboro.

August updates (August 23, 2008)

Ashtabula County, Ohio, is set to open what they call the longest covered bridge in the United States (at 613 feet long), leaving New Hampshire's Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge in second place. However, New Hampshire will still hold bragging rights to the longest historic covered bridge in America, while Ohio's bridge looks more like a UCEB with a tin roof.
Could it be? An historic bridge in Pennsylvania that is going to be saved? I'll believe it when I see it!
Missouri's plan to replace 802 bridges under one massive contract has stalled because of economic woes.
What happens when a bridge is closed for months and nobody knows who is responsible for maintaining it? Ray County, Missouri, has that problem.

Guest Editorial: The Misunderstanding of the Public Towards Bridges STILL Exists (August 22, 2008)

Being tied up with other matters over here in Germany, I have not been able to comment much on the situation regarding the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis one year after its collapse on 1 August, 2007, although I have been keeping up to date on the situation and even collecting articles for my personal archive. --- But I guess it was all for the best, for when I finally had a chance to consider adding my two cents to the matter, another pontist by the name of James Baughn, who runs the Historic Bridges of the US website and is a good colleague of mine, compiled an article on the sad state of the federal government in encouraging replacing instead of rehabilitating bridges. While I have to agree with him on the policies that exist and the campaign to spend more money on replacing bridges, he forgot to add one aspect, which has been influencing politicians into thinking the way they do- and which this article deals with- and that is the public behavior towards bridges in general. Already in Minnesota, the DOT has approved a plan to replace as many as 170 bridges over the next 10 years, including fast-tracking bridges in dire need of replacement; most notably the Hastings Bridge and the DeSoto (Hwy. 23) Bridge in St. Cloud. While this plan is an improvement to the policies that existed prior to the I-35W Bridge collapse last year, one should take a closer look at the fine print, which stated that MnDOT wants to get rid of certain types of bridges by then. Looking at the bridges affected and comparing it to the Federal Highway Administration's policies on dealing with structural deficient bridges, one can put two and two together and see that the bridges to be wiped off the road system are truss and cantilever bridges as numbers one and two on the priority list, followed by structures that are more than 50 years old in a distant third- concrete bridges, that is. While this new policy is understandable given the sorry state of the nation's infrastructure, because of the economic state we're in as of right now, the goal of eliminating truss and cantilever bridges before 2018, while spending money on new bridges made of concrete and have no aesthetical value whatsoever will simply not happen, even if the public outcry is still big one year after the collapse. While there are some bridge-phobics out there who are so afraid of crossing a bridge that they would either avoid them or (in one case) have their friends and spouses put them in the trunk of a car before crossing it, I feel that we are living in a society where the public is taking everything for granted. What I mean in this case is we are not educated properly on the safety of bridges, we expect too much from the politicians, and we believe in information from sources that can be considered questionable at best. This not only includes information from talk-show hosts, such as Rush Limbaugh (whom I personally detest with a passion), but also from the federal, state, and local governments themselves, as they have allowed the structures to deteriorate purposely, while at the same time, allow certain sources with little or no expertise in civil engineering to dictate their policies. What is worse is that these are the same people who present the public with information which no person can ever vouch for. In simpler language, we are living in a society where we have lost the mental capacity to think logically and behave reasonably. We are being dependent on these sources for comfort, when we should take a few minutes and think for ourselves and how our actions influence others around us. There are two types of stupidity that we're dealing with when it comes to handling (historic) bridges: stupidity based on beliefs and stupidity based on ignorance. Stupidity based on beliefs implies that the public believes in certain factors presented by those whose concern is not for the safety of the public but for their own purposes. This includes the usage of scare tactics, which has been a useful weapon to many who would like to see some of their prized historic bridges be replaced with concrete slabs. This was the case with the 5th Avenue Bridge in Decorah, which was demolished in April 2005 and served as a wake-up call for many who wanted to preserve what is left of Winneshiek County's historic bridges. There, some of the arguments for demolishing the Parker through truss icon included the inability of a fire truck to cross the one lane 10 ton bridge or the fact that it was dangerous for even pedestrians to cross it if closed to traffic. Now this is to a bridge whose rehabilitation occurred 20 years earlier, which included a paint job, making the structure greener and more attractive. Stupidity based on ignorance means the negligence to obey certain limits before crossing the bridge. This includes crossing bridges with a load heavier than the posted weight limit and "dropping" them into the water, like it was the case with the Frenchman's Bluff Bridge in Missouri in 2005. Stupidity based on ignorance can also refer to the view of many that historic bridges- especially truss bridges- are considered worthless and should be removed. This was the case when many people in Stillwater, MN pressed for the removal of the Lift Bridge after a semi truck caused damage to the bridge's upper chord in July this year. Despite these pleas claiming the bridge is a piece of rusted metal that ruins the scenery of the St. Croix River, the bridge will be preserved for pedestrian and bicycler use, once the new bridge is open to traffic in 2013. Both of these factors have played a role in influencing the politicians and other agencies into behaving the way they do right now. But my question is: is it the fault of the government for its policies towards maintaining bridges and preserving those considered historic, or is it the fault of the public because of mere stupidity? And if it is the fault of the public because of stupidity, what are the causes and what can we do about it? In my opinion, both sides share the responsibility for the irrational thinking towards bridges. Augmenting it further, both sides are responsible for the lack of information that is being passed around about the safety of bridges (and especially bridge types), while at the same time, using questionable and biased information on bridge safety in order to profit from the fears they are creating. This includes using tactics to scare people into believing that certain bridges are unsafe for crossing, whether it is through scare tactics or purposely neglecting the bridges for the purpose of cutting cost, as we saw from the bridge disaster. It is time that we in general should really shut up and listen to those who have expertise in bridge design and preservation, as well as those who have knowledge in mathematics and economics and can think rationally. If we do that, we will see that their views on how to maintain bridges and the view of the media and those influenced by people who want a share of power and money are different, black on white. Speaking on behalf of the engineers, I would consider truss and cantilever bridges an option for bridge construction, as they are designed to hold the roadway together by a series of triangular skeletal beams. They can only fail if they are not maintained properly. This includes fixing gusset plates and other beams and painting the structure from time to time, commodities that were missing when the I-35W Bridge went down. On behalf of the highway department, I would prioritize rehabilitation first instead of replacement, as Mr. Baughn has mentioned in his article. If replacement is inevitable, then with a bridge that provides attractiveness for passers-by. In Germany, as well as parts of Europe, China, and Japan, many state-of-the-art bridges have been constructed in place of older ones. This includes various types of suspension, arch, cantilever, and truss bridges. Examples of such bridges can be found in the International Structure Database website under www.structurae.net. Concrete bridges may provide a quick fix in catering to the increasing traffic demands. However these types have a shorter lifespan than truss and cantilever bridges. This apparent with several examples of concrete bridges in MN, which have deteriorated to a point where chunks of concrete the size of bowling balls are falling onto the roadway. And these are bridges that were built in the 1970s; the same types that we are constructing today still! I believe the time is ripe to get with the program and revolutionize bridge engineering so that everyone can see a really fancy bridge that will last longer than those we are building right now. In addition, one should consider historic bridges as points of interest and give them the same privileges as with parks and monuments. Bridge marketing is not going to do, as there is little or no interest in purchasing bridges, and there are too many loopholes involved. Designating them as points of interest protected by state and federal governments, would protect them against demolition for progress and attract more tourists to areas where historic bridges are located. In terms of education, people should be more aware of the bridges in general and not be shown biased information on certain bridge types that are supposedly unsafe. This means public awareness on the value of historic bridges, on how bridges are rehabilitated, and how drivers should respect certain restrictions where applicable. In terms of policies, stricter laws should be enforced to ensure that drivers respect the restrictions of the bridges, including weight limit, height and width restrictions, and speed limits, and enforce fines and revocation of driving privileges to those who disregard them. If it means having volunteers reporting any violations on a historic bridge to the authorities, make it so. We do have the right to make a citizen's arrest on someone for committing a crime. And finally, we the people should for once start thinking for ourselves and quit taking life for granted and believing in things that are far from reality and the truth. We should think logically and take reasonable measures to ensure that the bridges we build have a maximized lifespan. This means we should consider alternative crossings if a bridge we cross has a restricted weight, height, or width limit instead of crying for a new span; especially when it comes to bridges that only carry very few cars a day. It means supporting initiatives that best makes sense in terms of durability instead of money. It's better to spend extra money on a state-of-the art structure that will last 150 years than to spend half for a plain structure that has no value. It means that we should promote rehabilitation and maintenance wherever necessary, even if it means mentioning it to politicians and other agencies. And it means respecting the value of historic bridges and their connection with American history so that the next generation can share the same experiences we make. After all, there's more to life than Ronald McDonald and Nintendo. In closing, even though there are a lot of lessons that we've learned so far from the collapse, there are some that we still don't get because of misleading information and our stupidity. By listening to the experts, thinking logically and acting rationally towards bridges in general, we will save some money, lives, and headaches. While it is too late with the I-35W Bridge, I hope rational thinking and action will be practiced on the DeSoto and Hastings Bridges in MN, as well as all other bridges that are slated for replacement. We will see that there will be more bridges that need rehabilitation than replacement to prolong their life even more, and that only a handful of bridges will need replacement and if so with something that will attract passers-by, like the ones outside the USA. Jason D. Smith Jena, Germany

The Michigan Street Bridge Was Closed But Has Re-opened...Sort Of (August 20, 2008)

A tip o' the hat to David Yates, who pointed out on the Michigan Street Bridge page that the bridge was open when he was in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin but police were monitoring traffic at each end - which set us to trying to find out what's going on. According to the Door County Advocate, the Michigan Street Bridge in Door County was closed on July 21, due to structural deterioration that was discovered in an inspection. According to authorities, people ignoring the 5 ton weight limit put too much strain on the structure, forcing the bridge to be temporarily closed to verify its safety. When it reopened on July 23, law enforcement officers began to monitor traffic to strictly enforce the 5 ton limit. The Green Bay Press Gazette reported that a truck towing a trailer got past the officers, but the driver received a citation at the other end of the bridge - an expensive toll for ignoring the weight limit. The bridge is only open 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM when Police or Sheriff Department Officers will monitor traffic. It is barricaded between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The historic bridge was supposed to be replaced by the new bridge that is under construction, but a popular campaign to save the old bridge succeeded. After the new bridge opens, any day now, the Michigan Street Bridge is scheduled to undergo rebuilding.The Wisconsin DOT will keep the bridge open for now, but an estimated $13 million restoration is due to begin next March. The bid process is still open, in case you'd like to get in on the action. (David also provided the photo of the bridge.)

Editorial: Fixing bridges the smart way (August 3, 2008)

Now that we've reached the one year anniversary of the Minneapolis bridge disaster, it's not hard to find politicians and newspaper columnists lamenting the sorry state of the country's infrastructure. They all say the same thing: We need to spend more money! Unfortunately, almost everybody wants to spend money on the wrong thing: replacement instead of maintenance. Even if enough money could be found to replace all of the nation's structurally deficient bridges, it wouldn't take long before these shiny new bridges fell into disrepair again. --- This column about Massachusetts bridges makes an important point:

Over the useful life of infrastructure like roads and bridges, operation and maintenance generally costs 10 times the original construction price. But public capital budgets almost always focus solely on construction costs. Maintenance expenses come out of agency operating budgets, leaving little money and no incentive to invest in preserving assets.

There's no real incentive for highway departments to properly maintain their bridges. The bridges that are in the worst shape get top priority for federal replacement money, so it's actually in the best interest of local governments to allow bridges to become structurally deficient so they can cash in. It's a race to the bottom to see who can score the lowest rating. An ounce of maintenance today would be worth a pound of replacement in the future. Simple tasks, such as repainting steel beams, or clearing away salt left behind over the winter, would help extend the useful lifespan of a bridge while boosting its sufficiency rating. But the federal government does not provide windfalls for maintenance, only replacement. To make matters worse, current policy encourages the construction of Bridges to Nowhere. An old bridge that carries very little traffic, but has a low rating, will be replaced by a huge, overengineered concrete monstrosity. Take, for example, the Lewis Bridge near Smicksburg, Pennsylvania. According to the National Bridge Inventory, this historic through truss only carries 25 cars per day, but it will cost $1.6 million to build a replacement for a bridge that isn't even structurally deficient. Let's do some back-of-the-envelope calculations. If the new bridge lasts 75 years, then we we can expect over 680,000 total crossings (that's 25 crossings per day times 365.25 days per year times 75 years). With a price tag of $1.6 million, that means each crossing will end up costing over $2.30. The numbers get even uglier if the bridge doesn't last 75 years. What a waste! I can't blame local officials for agreeing to replace bridges like this. It's a use-it-or-lose-it situation. No elected official is going to pass up a $1.6 million windfall, even if, from a big picture standpoint, it makes no practical sense whatsoever. However, if the county or township had to pay for all or most of the replacement expenses instead of Uncle Sugardaddy Sam, then things would be different. Rehabilitation and preservation would suddenly look a lot more palatable. Heck, they might even decide that a bridge only carrying 25 cars per day isn't necessary anymore and that local residents could just as easily use another bridge. With that said, I would strongly suggest that federal and state bridge programs adopt the following policy statements: 1. A percentage of available funds should be earmarked specifically for maintenance. 2. Rehabilitation should always be preferred above replacement whenever safe to do so. 3. Bridges with very low traffic volumes do not need to be built to the same standards as major highway bridges. 4. Money should be spent on bridge projects which provide the most bang for the buck at the national or state level, paying close attention to the number of people that will benefit versus the total cost. 5. If politicians don't get to attend as many photo-op ribbon cuttings because more money is spent on maintenance or on better projects in other districts, then tough. Get over it. Government is already spending a fair chunk of change on bridge and infrastructure projects. Instead of resorting to raising taxes, imposing tolls, or floating more debt, let's try to make better use of what we already have. If Minneapolis was a wake-up call, then it's time we get out of bed.

End of July updates (July 30, 2008)

The new Missouri River bridge at Bismarck, North Dakota, is set to open this week. This will replace the old Liberty Memorial Bridge, the only remaining Warren-Turner truss bridge.
A wooden bridge on the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad near Reno, Minnesota, collapsed and was involved in a 27-car derailment.
The New York Times reports on the two bridges in Mississippi County, Arkansas, available for adaptive reuse. It looks like the bridge offer has generated some interest.
Folks in Charles City are asking for donations to help restore their lost suspension bridge.
The Glasgow Bridge in Missouri is still slated for closure and demolition starting August 4. Glasgow will hold a bridge "Tribute and Jamboree" on August 2 to say farewell to the bridge before its conversion into a UCEB.
An abandoned railroad line between Gordonville and Delta, Missouri, will likely be sold for scrap. The line has a handful of historic bridges, including a large through truss at Allenville. It's not clear what will happen to the bridges. Maybe this could be a rails-to-trails project?
Good news in Branson, Missouri: The Lake Taneycomo Bridge will be preserved while a second parallel span is built to relieve traffic congestion.

Welcome, Rural Missouri readers (July 28, 2008)

Yours truly is featured in this month's edition of Rural Missouri magazine. The article talks about the first bridge I photographed seriously, the Wappapello Bridge in Missouri. Sadly, this bridge was recently demolished to make way for -- you guessed it -- an Ugly Concrete Eyesore Bridge (UCEB). With this loss, and the recent closure of the Dolles Mill Bridge and Lowndes Bridge, only two pin-connected through truss bridges remain open to vehicular traffic in Southeast Missouri: Indian Ford Bridge and Wardell Bridge.

Missouri flash flooding destroys one bridge, spares another (July 28, 2008)

The Columbia Bridge in Monroe County, Missouri, was wiped out by flash flooding on Saturday. This was a riveted through truss over Elk Fork of the Salt River. Meanwhile, the same river threatened the Union Covered Bridge, only one of four authentic covered bridges remaining in Missouri. However, according to Charles Havens, volunteers were able to save the bridge by taking off the wood siding, allowing water to flow over and through the bridge, but without pushing it into the river. Recent rainfall over portions of northern Missouri has been intense, possibly even record-setting, so I wouldn't be surprised if other bridges were damaged by flash floods. In related news, we now know the final tally of railroad bridges destroyed by last month's Iowa floods: 17.

July roundup (July 26, 2008)

Winneshiek County, Iowa, has received a $100,000 grant to save three historic bridges and use them on a bike trail.
A bridge over Rock Creek in Dyer County, Tennessee, will be replaced soon. The article claims this is an 1870s bridge, but as a riveted Warren pony truss it probably dates from the 1920s.
The Town Street Bridge in downtown Columbus, Ohio, was closed to traffic this week after failing an inspection. It was already scheduled for replacement next year.
When New Hampshire announced plans to replace the Seavey Creek Bridge at Rye, they offered the wooden bridge for adaptive reuse. One person has submitted a proposal for relocating the bridge.
The wreckage of the Charles City Bridge in Iowa has finally been removed from the river following its destruction during the June floods. It's not clear what will happen next.

Foxburg Bridge Demolished (July 25, 2008)

Mark Ellis reports that the Foxburg Bridge met its demise on July 24, 2008 when it was dropped into the Allegheny River. Mark posted his photos on the Foxburg Bridge page. The demolition was also captured by The Derrick & News Herald that also reports a film crew was there from The Discovery Channel. Apparently the demolition will be part of a feature program sometime in the future.

Wimer Covered Bridge restored (July 4, 2008)

The Wimer Covered Bridge in Jackson County, Oregon, has been fully restored after it collapsed in 2003. It will be dedicated this Sunday, July 6. While Oregon still has roughly 50 covered bridges, Wimer is the only one open to vehicular traffic.

Powell Bridge saved (July 1, 2008)

David Backlin sends word that the Powell Bridge in McDonald County, Missouri, will be preserved for pedestrian use after a replacement bridge is built on a new alignment. The county originally intended to tear it down, but will instead give the bridge to the Powell Historical Preservation Society. A fundraiser will be held July 4 to raise money for repairs and preservation costs.

Bridgehunting with your GPS navigator (July 1, 2008)

It's amazing what can be done with modern GPS navigation systems. I have been able to load the entire bridge database on to my low-end Garmin Nuvi 200 (roughly $150 now). With the data installed as "Custom Points of Interest" I can quickly pull up the locations of all nearby bridges while on the road. I've uploaded a ZIP file (1.8 MB) containing the necessary POI information for Garmin and possibly other GPS receivers. Inside is bridges.gpi, which can be loaded directly to recent Garmin models, and bridges.gpx, an XML file that can be edited and converted for other receivers. --- Here's how it works for Garmin devices (Note: These directions worked for me, but your mileage my vary. If you brick your device, you're on your own.) Garmin makes a POILoader.exe program for loading custom data, but it doesn't run on my Linux system. However, my Garmin (and remember this is a low-end model) has an SD card reader, so I can copy the garmin.gpi file to the card and insert the card into the GPS. After turning it on, the Garmin shows this message: "New Extras data found on card. Would you like to install this data so that it will be available if the card is removed?" If you tap Yes, the entire bridge database will be permanently loaded. Removing or updating the data will require connecting the unit to your computer with the correct USB cable. If you don't have that, I'd recommend tapping No so that the database isn't permanently loaded -- you'll still have access to it from the SD card. Despite weighing in at a hefty 7 MB, the database seems to fit comfortably within the internal storage space. Next, you can access the bridge data by going to Where to -> Extras -> Custom POIs. (This might vary on higher-end models.) You will see a list of the bridges that are closest to your current location. If you tap one, you can see a summary for the bridge. I've included a fair amount of information about each structure, including the name, Bridgehunter ID number (to make it easy to search the site for a particular bridge), overview, county, status, and history. You can tap the "More" button to see the whole summary in an easier-to-read format, although (on my Garmin at least) the summary is repeated twice for some reason. The bridge data does not show up in the regular Points of Interest search. To look for bridges far away from you, the only option is to select a new locaton manually and then go to Custom POIs to see those bridges. Updating or removing the database To make changes to the installed data, you will need a mini-USB cable to connect the device to your computer. Your operating system should treat the Garmin as an external storage device. To remove the data, go to the /Garmin/POI folder and delete the bridges.gpi file. Copying over a new version from your computer doesn't seem to work (at least in my testing). It may be possible to copy or update using the POILoader.exe program, although I haven't had the chance to try that. Adding bridges If, while travelling, you stumble across an interesting bridge, you can easily save the coordinates for later. Go to Where to? -> Coordinates -> Next -> Save -> (Enter a label for future reference) -> Done. This will add the current location to your "Favorites." When you get home, connect the device to your computer and look for the /GPX/current.gpx file. This contains an XML listing of your favorite places, which you can view using a text editor to extract the latitude/longitude coordinates. (Warning: In the process of fiddling with my Garmin to write these instructions, I somehow loaded a bunch of random bridges from the database into my Favorites. I didn't lose any of my existing Favorites, but now I have a bunch of bridges from who-knows-where cluttering the list, with no easy way to remove them. So be careful.) Other brands The ZIP file also contains a bridges.gpx file using the standard GPX format for storing GPS information. It might be possible to use gpsbabel or another program to convert this file into the POI format used by TomTom or other GPS brands. I believe it's also possible to convert GPX into the KML format used by Google Earth.

I-94 Reopens in Wisconsin (June 26, 2008)

The bridges that carry westbound I-94 over the Rock River and the Crawfish River, closed because threats from flood water, have reopened. AM620 WTMJ News reports that Wisconsin DOT has thoroughly inspected both bridges and determined them to be safe. The eastbound lanes will be restricted to one lane on June 27 to facilitate removal of the crossovers that were installed last week.

Another railroad bridge lost in Iowa (June 25, 2008)

A railroad bridge leading to a Tyson's plant near Columbus Junction, Iowa, collapsed last night, injuring the engineer who had to be rescued from the water. This appears to have been a wooden trestle over a backwater channel. Officials are worried about the integrity of the Park Road Bridge in Iowa City. This bridge -- and perhaps many others -- may have suffered from scouring by the strong current of the floodwaters. The Federal government has authorized an emergency $1 million for bridge and road repairs.

June 24 Iowa update (June 24, 2008)

Workers attempted to pull the wreckage of the Charles City Suspension Bridge out of the river, but were stymied by the soft ground and tangled mess. The good news is that most of the bridge remains on site and didn't wash downstream. It's possible that some can be salvaged as part of a reconstruction. Three more bridges have been reportedly washed out by the floods, this time in Butler County. Meanwhile, the approaches to two bridges in Cedar County were damaged and could take months to repair.

June 22 tidbits (June 22, 2008)

The Lake Taneycomo bridge at Branson, Missouri, is a major bottleneck and the source of much controversy over what to do with it. The latest proposals, however, will ensure that the bridge remains standing.
Raymond Klein sent this link to a collection of photos from the Dallin Aerial Survey Company, 1924-1941. Lots of bridges are included, although the photos are copyrighted.
The Highway 99 bridge over the Minnesota River at St. Peter, Minnesota, is on the state's list of bridges to be replaced in the next decade, but officials hope it can be relocated and preserved.
Here's an interesting concept: an historic bridge bike tour.

June 21 Iowa update (June 21, 2008)

Two more bridges in Linn County, Iowa, were damaged by flooding. The article is vague about exactly which bridges were affected, but the county engineer believes they can be "lifted back into place."
The Iowa Department of Transportation has a photo gallery of road and bridge damage.
If the flooding wasn't bad enough, a bridge near Essex, Iowa, was burned this week under suspicious circumstances.

Moscow Covered Bridge to be rebuilt (June 21, 2008)

The Moscow Covered Bridge Festival is still going to be held June 27-29 as planned. The proceeds will be used not only to help victims from the tornado, but also to help rebuild the bridge. Apparently inmates from the New Castle Correctional Facilty are being used to retreive the truss timbers for reuse. If anyone wants to donate to the rebuilding of this impressive structure they can send it to this address. MainSource Bank
P.O. Box 249
Rushville, IN 46173
Make checks payable to: Moscow Covered Bridge Restoration Fund. Having spent a great deal of time on and under this bridge, I personally can't wait to see it back in place towering over the Flatrock River.

Another bridge lost to flooding (June 20, 2008)

The Huntzinger Bridge in Fayette County, Iowa, was another victim of the flooding. From the newspaper description, this was a peculiar structure, with one half a 1916 concrete arch design and the other half a reconstructed 1951 steel beam design. Replacing this bridge and fixing all of the other damage in Fayette County is going to be expensive. In other flood news, conditions in Wisconsin are improving slightly, with northbound I-39 reopening. Two river crossings on Westbound I-94 lanes are still threatened by high water, but traffic has been diverted to the eastbound side, using quickly constructed crossovers, so the vital Interstate link can carry traffic in both directions.

June 17 flood updates (June 17, 2008)

Mississippi River bridges are closed at Fort Madison and Burlington.
Iowa has been getting most of the attention, but parts of Wisconsin are a real mess. Many roads and bridges in Jefferson County are closed. Westbound I-94 remains closed between Madison and Milwaukee, although the state is working on building crossover ramps to allow one-lane traffic in both directions.
Despite rumors, none of the truss bridges in Winneshiek County, Iowa, were washed away. The Henry Bridge did suffer some damage but is otherwise intact.
Here are photos of the Sutliff Bridge collapse: before and after.
Jason Smith forwarded this video clip of the Cedar Falls railroad bridge collapse.

Minnesota bridge replacements (June 17, 2008)

The Winona Bridge opened this week to restricted traffic. The faulty gusset plates will be repaired this summer. Meanwhile, Minnesota has announced plans to replace 120 bridges in the next decade, including 11 major bridges.

Friday the 13th (June 15, 2008)

The unbelievable flooding in Iowa has wiped out yet another historic bridge: the Sutliff Bridge. One of the three spans collapsed and the rest are shaky at best. This was a restored Parker through truss and a popular tourist attraction.

Update June 14: As the crest moves downstream, officials are worried about possible bridge collapses in Iowa City. Meanwhile, the state's railroad network is basically shut down thanks to destroyed bridges and inundated tracks all over the place.

Update June 15: Portions of the Mississippi River above St. Louis are expected to reach levels above those seen during the Great Flood of 1993. Levee failures are possible, even likely. Bridges at Quincy and Louisiana are closed.

Iowa flood update (June 12, 2008)

The situation continues to deteriorate in parts of Iowa with historic flood levels wiping out bridges. A 1903 railroad bridge in Cedar Rapids was destroyed this morning. Meanwhile, a railroad bridge in Winneshiek County also collapsed, damaging the approach to an adjacent highway bridge. It's likely that other bridges will be lost in this flood.

More June updates (June 10, 2008)

The crazy weather in the Midwest has claimed another victim: the Charles City Suspension Bridge in Floyd County, Iowa. It was washed away by flash flooding Sunday night. Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and other states were hit hard over the last few days. More bridges may have been damaged by flooding, tornadoes, high winds, or who knows what.
Arkansas is placing two pony trusses up for adoption in Craighead County.
The US 136 Bridge over Chariton River in Schuyler County, Missouri, is undergoing replacement.
Workers at the US 18 bridge over the Mississippi River at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, heard a strange noise as a heavy truck crossed. As a result, a ban has been issued for overweight permit loads (over 80,000 pounds). These major river bridges are being closed or restricted at an alarming rate.

June updates (June 8, 2008)

Demolition of the highway bridge at Glasgow, Missouri, is slated to start August 4, 2008. The through trusses and deck will be removed and a new superstructure built on top of the existing piers. While the bridge is undergoing reconstruction, MoDOT has contracted with a company to provide ferry service.
Bridge No. 13 in Shelby County, Indiana, will be preserved thanks to funding from the state highway department. This is a 19th Century Pratt through truss built by the King Bridge Co.
A campaign has been started to reconstruct the Dewey Bridge, the suspension bridge in Grand County, Utah, partially destroyed by fire recently. Early reports indicated the bridge was completely destroyed, but apparently the fire only ravaged the deck, not the steel towers or cables.
Local support is growing to save the Murray Morgan Bridge in Tacoma, Washington, closed since last October after failing an inspection.

Winona Bridge closed (June 4, 2008)

The Mississippi River Bridge at Winona, Minnesota, was suddenly closed Tuesday after failing an inspection. Until the bridge can be repaired and reopened, which might take a few weeks, the city is hoping to offer an emergency ferry service for commuters. Ironically, the bridge is featured on a stamp celebrating Minnesota's sesquicentennial.

Meanwhile, problems were found with the Meridian Bridge at Yankton, South Dakota, causing a 10-ton weight limit to be imposed. A replacement bridge is scheduled to open this fall. Other bridges failing inspection include the DeSoto Bridge at St. Cloud, Minnesota (permanently closed and awaiting replacement) and the Blatnik Bridge at Duluth (emergency repairs underway). Finally, the bridge at Hastings, Minnesota, has been fast-tracked for replacement.

More details -- and finger pointing -- are coming out from the investigation into the I-35W bridge collapse.

Moscow Covered Bridge destroyed by tornado (June 4, 2008)

The Moscow Covered Bridge in Rush County, Indiana, was destroyed by a tornado early Wednesday morning. This was the longest covered bridge in Indiana still carrying traffic. Photos from the scene show that the bridge is completely sitting in the river, but it may be possible to reconstruct it. The annual festival celebrating the bridge, scheduled for later this month, is now in limbo.

Some good news for a change (May 22, 2008)

While rural historic bridges are being replaced at an appalling rate, larger bridges in cities seem to be faring somewhat better:

The Junction Bridge in Little Rock opened to pedestrians last weekend. This might be the only rails-to-trails project involving a vertical lift bridge. (Maybe the Boonville Bridge can be next.)
The McKinley Bridge in St. Louis, currently open to vehicular traffic, is set to have its new biking/hiking lane dedicated June 7th. The bikeway will take advantage of the refurbished Branch Street Trestle to provide access on the Missouri side from street level.
Also in St. Louis, plans are underway to rehabilitate the abandoned Iron Horse Trestle for pedestrian access. This elevated rail line will serve to connect downtown with the McKinley Bridge.
Leaders in Jefferson City, Missouri, are deciding how best to add a pedestrian walkway to their Missouri River bridge, eventually connecting the Katy Trail to the Capitol grounds.

New book releases (May 11, 2008)

This spring has seen the publication of some bridge-related books:

A Bridge Worth Saving: A Community Guide to Historic Bridge Preservation gives step-by-step instructions for preserving truss bridges. I'm looking forward to reading this one.
Wood, Concrete, Stone, and Steel: Minnesota's Historic Bridges is a timely guide to bridges in Minnesota.
Historic Bridges: Evaluation, Preservation, and Management is a serious tome about historic bridge preservation. The price tag on this book puts it out of my league, but it might be worthwhile for professional engineers and historians.
A Missouri Railroad Pioneer: The Life of Louis Houck isn't about bridges, but it does chronicle the life of an "accidental" railroad tycoon from Southeast Missouri. Louis Houck didn't know much about engineering, and it showed. His railroad lines and bridges were quite low budget and primitive, becoming the butt of many jokes. But he got the job done and had a profound impact on regional history.

Assorted tidbits (April 28, 2008)

Another lawsuit has been filed over the Boonville Railroad Bridge. The Union Pacific Railroad wants to dismantle the bridge and move some of the approach spans to build a new bridge at Osage City. At issue is whether historic preservation requirements were sidestepped during the process of obtaining the permit for the project.
Construction has started on the replacement for Kansas City's Paseo Bridge, while St. Louis has chosen a design firm for its new Mississippi River Bridge. Both cities have positioned their bridges as "landmark" or "signature" spans, but these cable-stayed bridges will probably look the same as any of the other cable-stayed designs built recently by other major cities.
Any bridgehunters in the Tampa Bay area? I'll be in Tampa the week of May 4 on business and might be able to squeeze in some bridgehunting.

April news items (April 20, 2008)

The Lowry Avenue Bridge over the Mississippi River at Minneapolis may need to be permanently closed due to shifting of one of the piers.
The Old Monroe Bridge at Lincoln County, Missouri, is closed following a collision. While this bridge no longer carries Highway 79, it is still a convenient access point for the town of Old Monroe.
After a 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook much of the Midwest on Friday, bridge inspectors in some states were dispatched to look for damage, but it appears they didn't find much.
Demolition is underway on the old Hermann Bridge over the Missouri River at Hermann, Missouri. It was replaced by a UCEB (Ugly Concrete Eyesore Bridge).

Beaver Bridge in danger (April 18, 2008)

The suspension bridge at Beaver, Arkansas, has been flooded twice during the last month. Even after the water finally recedes from White River, the bridge might remain closed because of damage by the floodwater and debris. See photos here, here, and here.

Dewey Bridge destroyed (April 12, 2008)

The Dewey Bridge over the Colorado River near Moab, Utah, was destroyed by fire on April 6. Supposedly, the fire was started by a 7-year old boy "playing with matches." Built 1915-16 by the Midland Bridge Co., this suspension bridge had the longest clear span (503 feet) of any bridge in Utah. It's unlikely that Grand County, the owner, will try to reconstruct it.

National Bridge Inventory 2007 (March 25, 2008)

By popular demand, I've taken the latest edition of the National Bridge Inventory and produced a set of tab-delimited files suitable for importing into Excel or OpenOffice. Warning: This is a huge 36 MB ZIP file that expands to almost 300 MB when uncompressed. If you just want to peruse a few bridges, Nationalbridges.com might be more convenient.

The Federal Highway Administration only started posting the raw NBI data on their website last year. Prior to that, the agency was paranoid that terrorists could somehow use the data, particularly the GPS coordinates, for nefarious purposes. Thankfully they've come to their senses. In a memo dated May 17, 2007, the FHWA concluded that:

[T]he NBI data does not present information not otherwise publicly available that would likely assist persons in targeting a specific structure or planning an attack on a structure.

The memo also adds this tidbit:

It is also noteworthy that a recent study found that because potential terrorists have numerous options for gathering mission-critical attack information, government Agency data is unlikely to be a primary source of information. The study found that less than 1 percent of 629 Federal data sets reviewed by researchers appeared to have notable value for would-be attackers.

With the collapse of the I-35W Bridge, it's more important than ever for this information to be readily available to the public.

Midwest floods start to recede (March 23, 2008)

On Tuesday, portions of Missouri and Illinois were hit with a whopping 10-13 inches of rain. Many surrounding areas were drenched as well, with a huge swath of 5+ inch totals. This led to record or near-record flooding along many rivers, including the Meramec, Big, Gasconade, Black and Castor rivers in Missouri. The waters are starting to recede and it's not clear yet how many bridges may have been damaged.

Not looking good for three Wayne County, Missouri, bridges (March 23, 2008)

Two through truss bridges in Wayne County, Missouri, are on the verge of being replaced and demolished, while a third bridge was recently condemned.

Construction of a new four-lane replacement for the Greenville Bridge is almost complete.
The Wappapello Bridge is currently closed by floodwaters, but work is underway to construct a replacement.
The Lowndes Bridge failed its inspection a few weeks ago and is now closed to traffic. Barricades have been permanently welded to the bridge portals, suggesting that the county has no plans to repair it.

Those darn gusset plates (March 23, 2008)

The investigation into the collapse of the Minneapolis I-35W bridge is revealing that the gusset plates were starting to bend as early as 2003. Let the finger pointing begin.

Similar problems with the gusset plates on the Division Street Bridge in St. Cloud were recently observed, leading to the closure of the bridge until it can be repaired or replaced.

Looking for maps? (February 21, 2008)

Topographic maps are an essential tool for tracking down lost or abandoned bridges. The quadrangles produced over the years by the U.S. Geological Survey often show the traces of old roads and railroads. In the past, these maps were hard to find online, but the situation has improved:

The Internet Archive (archive.org) has posted national coverage for modern-day quadrangles in TIFF format. These maps include the "collars" from the printed editions, which include useful information such the date of revision and the names of adjacent quads.
The University of Texas Perry-Casta�eda Library site features modern and historic 250K-scale quadrangles in convenient JPEG format. These do not include nearly as much detail as the ones above, but many areas were covered in the 1940s and 1950s and show roads and bridges from the pre-Interstate days. Also, railroad overpasses are clearly marked, something that even more detailed maps don't always show.
The University of Alabama site features many historic quadrangles from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Select a state and then look for the "Out-of-Print Quadrangles" link at the top. Unfortunately, the site requires the MrSID browser plugin which make serious research difficult. In addition to the quads, UA also has historic soil survey maps for many counties, another excellent source of bridge information.
Other sites with historic topo maps are listed here. Coverage is sporadic, but some parts of the country have excellent coverage with maps available in convenient downloadable formats.

Fair Grove Bridge to be demolished (January 28, 2008)

David Backlin sends word that Missouri plans to tear down the Fair Grove Bridge over the Pomme de Terre River north of Springfield, MO. This open-spandrel arch was abandoned after it was bypassed by a new alignment of US 65. The highway will be widened to four lanes and the old bridge stands in the way of the new southbound lanes.

Welcome to Bridgehunter.com 2.0 (January 18, 2008)

After months of planning and programming, I'm happy to unveil the new version of Historic Bridges of the United States. Some of the new features include:

Brand new search engine: Enter a phrase like "10-panel Parker through truss" and the system will show matching bridges, sorted by relevance.
New category system: Browse bridges by a single category, or mix-and-match categories to pin-point particular bridges.
Photo galleries: View photos of bridge plaques, truss joints, postcards, and more.
Revamped bridge pages: Instead of wading through all of the bridge photos at the top of the page, the photos are shown one-by-one as a slideshow. However, you can always click "See all photos" to reveal all of them at once.
Bridges are now listed by city in addition to state and county.
You can now post comments and photos to news stories.

I'm working on Phase 2, which will allow you to upload photos and updated information directly to the site. In the meantime, feel free to poke around the new design and let me know if you see any pesky bugs or broken links.

More December news (December 18, 2007)

Jeremy Ruble reports that the Bluff Hall Bridge south of Quincy, Illinois, is closed and might be replaced by a culvert soon. This bridge sits right next to a state highway bridge, so I don't understand the need to replace it.
Steve Anderson sends word that the Berry Road Bridge north of Bonne Terre, Missouri, is closed to traffic. This is another bridge that sits next to a state highway and doesn't deserve to have so much money spent replacing it.
It's been 40 years since the collapse of the Silver Bridge at Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
The Dysart Bridge in Pennsylvania collapsed recently under the weight of a snowplow. This will undoubtedly give Pennsylvania even more reason to demolish historic bridges.
The Tenth Street Bridge in Great Falls, Montana, has been refurbished for pedestrian use, complete with a spectacular lighting system.
The McKinley Bridge in St. Louis is finally open to traffic.
Nathan Holth says that "Google makes getting out of my chair pointless." Google Maps recently added Pittsburgh -- and its many bridges -- to the list of cities that you can browse from a street-level perspective. Click on "Street View" and select any road or bridge outlined in blue, and Google will give you a driver's eye view, down to the last rivet.

Shameless plug (December 17, 2007)

One person asked about the possibility of purchasing a photo of the old Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Bridge. I'm happy to oblige and have made a few photos available as art prints through lulu.com. I'm going to pick out some more of my favorite photos from the archives and upload them. Let me know if you have any special requests.