|
Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
| Owens Road Bridge | Truss | Owens Road | Miami County, OH | Rural | Panther Creek |
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Technical Facts |
|
Construction Date |
Rehabilitation Date |
Structure Length | Roadway Width | Builder |
| Unknown Pre-1900 (Inventory lists 1913: seems incorrect) | 1958 | 85.958 Feet | 22 Feet | Smith Bridge Company (Based On Appearance) |
This bridge is a six panel pin connected Pratt through truss. It retains original lattice railings, which are above added railings. This bridge is clearly a Smith Bridge Company Bridge, as suggested by nearly-identical examples as the Morseville Bridge, and the Hamilton Road Bridge. These bridges look nearly identical to this bridge. Note the similarities to the portal bracing, including the unusual distinction of how the portal bracing is slightly below the top of the top chord. Also, the arrangement and location of v-lacing, batten plates, and sway bracing is identical as well. There are strange bearings at the northern end of the bridge. They are like rocker bearings, but the end post actually forms the rocker, rather than being attached to a seperate rocker device. In addition, down there you can see how the bottom chord passes through the end post and is bolted on the other side. Such characteristics are very unusual, and are not a standard design, however they do make an appearance on the Hamilton Road Bridge. As such, I believe the 1913 date given by the bridge inventories to be incorrect. This bridge should date to the mid 1880s, and is a Smith Bridge Company bridge..
