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Alaska - Mears Memorial Bridge

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
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Photos 

Photo taken by Chris Schmitt

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Map 

Street View 

Statement of Significance 

Written by Nathan Holth

This bridge's main span of 700 feet makes it one of the longest simple truss spans ever constructed. The second longest simple truss span in the world when completed, it is only 20 feet shorter than the Metropolis Bridge that Modjeski had designed six years earlier. The Metropolis Bridge was the longest simple truss span in the world when built. It is also noteworthy for its association with Ralph Modjeski, one of the most famous bridge engineers in the 20th Century. The Michigan Technic reported that it this bridge cost $1,250,000:
http://books.google.com/books?id=l0fiAAAAMAAJ&lpg=RA4-PA8&dq...

Facts 

Overview
Pennsylvania through truss bridge over Tanana River on single track of the Alaska Railroad in Nenana
Location
Nenana, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
Status
Open to traffic
History
Built 1923
Builders
- American Bridge Co. of New York (Steel Fabrication)
- Col. Frederick Mears (Project Engineer)
- Ralph Modjeski of Bochnia, Poland (Chief Bridge Engineer)
Design
Pennsylvania through truss
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 700.0 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude
+64.56710, -149.07864   (decimal degrees)
64°34'02" N, 149°04'43" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
6/400408/7161841 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Fairbanks C-5 SE
Inventory number
BH 38238 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

Alaska (98)
Alaska Railroad (12)
American Bridge Co. (687)
Built 1923 (460)
Built during 1920s (7,774)
Col. Frederick Mears (1)
Have street view (16,646)
Nenana, Alaska (3)
Open (31,977)
 Owned by railroad (6,932)
Pennsylvania truss (353)
Railroad (9,254)
Ralph Modjeski (41)
Span length 500-1000 feet (339)
Through truss (11,008)
Truss (26,036)
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska (10)

Update Log 

  • March 13, 2014: Essay added by Nathan Holth
  • November 18, 2012: Photo imported by Luke Harden
  • April 25, 2010: New photos from Chris Schmitt
  • March 31, 2010: Updated by Craig Philpott: added street view

Sources 

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Comments 

ARR - Mears Memorial Bridge
Posted March 13, 2014, by Nathan Holth (form3 [at] historicbridges [dot] org)

Nobody has noted how significant this bridge is so I added a statement of significance. At 700 feet its one of the longest simple truss spans around.

Mears Memorial Bridge
Posted September 27, 2011, by Tony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

A bridge in Nenana... over the Tanana... makes me want a Banana... ;-P