View Information About HSR Ratings
This standard plan truss bridge is highly attractive in appearance, and it also retains good historic integrity. With a graceful main Parker truss span, this bridge features one Warren pony truss approach span on each end. The pony truss spans both compliment and contrast the main span, and aesthetically provide a genuine visual sense of "approach" to the main span. Bridges such as this are also historically significant as representative examples of a period in history. Bridges like this bridge are not longer built on today's roadways, from the overall truss configuration, right down to the rivets that fasten the bridge together. Bridges such as this must be preserved not only to preserve the record of the craftsmen who built the bridge, but also to preserve the legacy of a beautiful, complex bridge design from long ago.
This bridge is one of Missouri's remaining standard plan
truss bridges. As the first and second decades of the 20th Century passed
by, the movement to have states develop standard plans for bridges for the
purpose of bringing a greater measure of quality control, efficiency, and
consistency to bridgework in the nation took hold. In response to this
movement, states developed standard plans for the bridge types that were
most common and functional during the period. From the mid 1910s through the
1940s, many (but not all) states had developed standard plans for truss
bridges which were used to in situations where large spans were desirable.
While these standard plan truss bridges meant an end to the diversity of
truss bridge appearances and designs seen during the earlier period where
individual bridge companies designed the bridges, these standard plan truss
bridges remained among the most intricate and visually intriguing bridge
types. In addition, variety was still achieved because these standard plans
were revised over the years, and different designs for different span
lengths existed, and differences in skew and span numbers create additional
variety. Moreover, these standard plan truss bridges are interesting because
while they are all similar within each state, they are quite different from
state to state because each state designed its own standard plans for truss
bridges, and the designs they chose might be quite different from other
states. Among the fifty states differences seen among truss bridge standard
plans include truss configuration, portal bracing designs, built-up and
rolled beam designs and placements, railing, and plaques.
Missouri's
standard plans for trusses are usually either a Parker truss (long spans), a
Pratt through truss (medium spans), and a subdivided Warren pony truss
(short spans). Perhaps the most distinctive feature of Missouri's standard
plan through truss bridges is their portal bracing. On most truss bridges,
the portal bracing is the most structurally and visually substantial piece
of bracing on the bridge. While Missouri's portal bracing may be
structurally substantial, visually it is one of the smallest portal bracings
ever seen, consisting of a single rolled or built-up beam, depending on the
bridge. The sway bracing on through truss bridges is also simple, often
being the same design as the portal bracing, if less massive. In contrast,
the diagonals and verticals of the truss web tend to be built-up beams that
are more visually appealing because they contain a combination of v-lacing
and battens to create their built-up beams at these locations. Top chords on
the bridges are generally built-up box beams that include v-lacing on the
bottom. Indeed, v-lacing is the trend on these bridges for built-up beams,
along with battens. Lattice is not usually seen. Plaques on the bridges are
simple and uninformative, with historical information limited to no more
than the construction date. Looking at all the features of Missouri's
standard plan truss bridges, in terms of aesthetic quality, they rate
similarly in aesthetic quality standard plan truss bridges in other states.
Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):
Search For Additional Bridge Listings:
Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.
Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.
Additional Maps:
Google Streetview (If Available)
GeoHack (Additional Links and Coordinates)
Apple Maps (Via DuckDuckGo Search)
Apple Maps (Apple devices only)
Android: Open Location In Your Map or GPS App
Flickr Gallery (Find Nearby Photos)
Wikimedia Commons (Find Nearby Photos)
Directions Via Sygic For Android
Directions Via Sygic For iOS and Android Dolphin Browser
USGS National Map (United States Only)
Historical USGS Topo Maps (United States Only)
Historic Aerials (United States Only)
CalTopo Maps (United States Only)
© Copyright 2003-2024, HistoricBridges.org. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: HistoricBridges.org is a volunteer group of private citizens. HistoricBridges.org is NOT a government agency, does not represent or work with any governmental agencies, nor is it in any way associated with any government agency or any non-profit organization. While we strive for accuracy in our factual content, HistoricBridges.org offers no guarantee of accuracy. Information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Information could include technical inaccuracies or errors of omission. Opinions and commentary are the opinions of the respective HistoricBridges.org member who made them and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone else, including any outside photographers whose images may appear on the page in which the commentary appears. HistoricBridges.org does not bear any responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of this or any other HistoricBridges.org information. Owners and users of bridges have the responsibility of correctly following all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, regardless of any HistoricBridges.org information.
