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Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
Range Line Road Bridge |
Truss |
State Line Road |
Lake County, IN |
Rural |
Kankakee River |
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Technical Facts |
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Construction Date |
Rehabilitation Date |
Main Span Length | Total Length | Structure Length | Deck Width | Vertical Clearance |
| 1920 | 1991 | 167 Feet | 169 Feet | 167 Feet | 19 Feet | 16 Feet |
This bridge, which appears to be under Lake County jurisdiction is, like all three Lake County truss bridges, threatened with destruction by the county. While I will admit that this is the least significant of the three, I will also note that the bridge has some tough competition, and without is still an impressive and unusual bridge. Besides, it is still a rare example of a truss bridge of any kind being in a county with only three highway truss bridges. It also is a good candidate for preservation because of its fairly wide deck width and sturdy riveted design. There really is nothing wrong with this bridge that a simple restoration could not fix. The Indiana Bridge marketing page for this bridge says a timber deck was added to the steel deck in 1991. Seeing a traditional late 1800s style wooden deck on a 1920s truss bridge is rather unusual, and I think it makes the deck look extra wide, since these decks usually appear on bridges with perhaps only 14 feet wide decks. This bridge is an impressive riveted Parker truss, and it features extensive v-lacing. The portal bracing is an a-frame design. Lattice railings remain on the bridge, although there is extensive damage to these. I found Inland steel stamps on the bridge as well as Illinois steel stamps.
Information and Findings From DHPA Historic Bridge SurveyStatement of Significance Except for its heavier diagonals, this is a rather standard nine-panel Camelback. The bridge retains its original members and latticed guardrails. Architectural Description Resting upon its concrete abutments and wingwalls, this all-riveted Camelback through truss spans 168' in nine panels with verticals of a single size of laced channels. Double angles riveted to stay plates comprise heavier than usual diagonals, but they function in the typical manner, set inward from the top to bottom chord in all central and side section panels. Only in the most central panel is there a cross diagonal. I floor beams are riveted to gussets above the lower chord whose members are fabricated like the diagonals. The timber deck sports a 19'5" roadway and 16' of vertical clearance. |
