Ralph Modjeski
of Bochnia, Poland
View Exhibit mapRalph Modjeski (January 27, 1861 – June 26, 1940) was a Polish-born American engineer who achieved prominence as a pre-eminent bridge designer in the United States. In 1893, in Chicago, Modjeski opened his own design office, which still exists as "Modjeski & Masters," after it was joined in 1924 by Frank M. Masters. Modjeski's first project as chief engineer was Government Bridge over Mississippi River at Rock Island, IL. He took over the mis-designed Quebec Bridge after the 1907 disaster that killed 75 workers, and succeeded in creating the longest truss span in the world. Modjeski was world-famous as a designer of bridges and built nearly 40 bridges spanning the great rivers of North America. He trained succeeding generations of American bridge designers and builders, including Joseph B. Strauss. Modjeski was considered "America's greatest bridge builder." He was the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees.
MODJESKI INFORMATION:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Modjeski
SOURCES:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Modjeski
Arsenal Bridge (Scott County, Iowa)
Engineer, 1896Baltimore through truss bridge over Mississippi River on 2 lanes of traffic and a single rail line in DavenportOpen to traffic
B.N.S.F. - Celilo Bridge (Wasco County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1912Vertical lift bridge over Columbia River on Oregon Trunk Railroad Line in Celilo, OR and Wishram, WAOpen to traffic
B.N.S.F. - Crooked River Bridge (Jefferson County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1911Steel arch bridge over Crooked River on BNSF/Union Pacific Railroad in TerrebonneOpen to traffic
B.N.S.F. - Oregon Slough Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1908Swing span through truss bridge over Columbia River - Oregon Slough on BNSF Railway in PortlandOpen to traffic
Benjamin Franklin Bridge (Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania)
Chief Engineer, 1926Suspension bridge over Delaware River on I-676/US 30 in PhiladelphiaOpen to traffic
Broadway Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1912Rall-Bascule lift bridge over Willamette River on Broadway Street in PortlandOpen to traffic
East Street Bridge (Wood County, West Virginia)
Designer, 1907Lost Through truss bridge over Little Kanawha River on West Virginia 14A (Alternate 14)Replaced by new bridge
Fessenden Street Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1909Warren deck truss bridge over BNSF Railway on Fessenden Street in PortlandOpen to traffic
Frisco Bridge (Shelby County, Tennessee)
Built 1892Cantilevered through truss railroad bridge over the Mississippi River at MemphisOpen to railroad traffic
Harahan Bridge (Shelby County, Tennessee)
Built 1916Cantilevered through truss railroad bridge over the Mississippi River at MemphisOpen to railroad traffic on two tracks; road deck abandoned
I-74 Bridge (Scott County, Iowa)
Chief Engineer, 1935Pair of suspension bridges over the Mississippi River on I-74 between Bettendorf and MolineOpen to traffic
McKinley Bridge (St. Louis, Missouri)
Built 1910Through truss bridge over the Mississippi River at St. LouisOpen to traffic
Mears Memorial Bridge (Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska)
Chief Bridge Engineer, 1923Pennsylvania through truss bridge over Tanana River on single track of the Alaska Railroad in NenanaOpen to traffic
Metropolis Bridge (Massac County, Illinois)
Consulting Engineer, 1917Six-span through truss bridge over the Ohio River on the Canadian National Railway at MetropolisOpen to railroad traffic
Mid Hudson Bridge (Ulster County, New York)
Chief Engineer, 1930Suspension bridge over Hudson River on US 44 and NY 55 in Highland and PoughkeepsieOpen to traffic
North Lombard Street Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1909Warren deck truss bridge over the BNSF Railroad on N. Lombard St. in PortlandOpen to traffic
Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge (Dutchess County, New York)
1907 rehabilitation, 1888Massive cantilevered deck truss bridge over the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie and HighlandOpen to pedestrians
San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge (San Francisco County, California)
Consulting Engineer, 1936Suspension and cantilever truss bridge over San Francisco Bay on I-80 in OaklandOpen to traffic
Tacony-Palmyra Bridge (Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania)
Chief Engineer, 1929Bascule bridge over Delaware River on NJ 73 in PhiladelphiaOpen to traffic
Thebes Bridge (Alexander County, Illinois)
Built 1905Cantilevered through truss railroad bridge over the Mississippi River at ThebesOpen to railroad traffic on two tracks
Willamette Blvd. Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Built 1909Warren deck truss bridge over BNSF Railway on Willamette Blvd. in PortlandOpen to traffic
Wissahickon Memorial Bridge (Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania)
Engineer, 1931Open-spandrel arch bridge over Wissahickon Creek on Henry AvenueOpen to traffic