Acrow Pony Truss

View Exhibit map

Acrow Ltd. was granted a patent in 1973, with their system based on the Bailey design. Since that time, the system has been updated and patented in 1990 to be a stronger, longer and more adaptable design. The current "3rd generation" bridge design is lighter than the original design with a truss that is 50% deeper, 50% stronger in bending and 20% stronger in shear. These improvements are achieved through an improved shape and design of the panel configuration. The triangular panels deviate from the original lattice design in that the panels can be situated and pinned to eliminate the stresses associated with pinhole sag and elastic deflection. For longer spans, the panels can also be staked vertically and connected to create a two-tier system with enhanced stiffness.

Acrow Bridge (Essex County, Massachusetts)
Acrow Pony Truss bridge over Saugus River on General Edward
Open to traffic

Barrackville Covered Bridge 48-25-02 (Marion County, West Virginia)
Built in 1853 by Eli & Lemuel Chenoweth; Bypassed 1987; ACROW pony truss installed 1991 due to deterioration; Renovated 1998
Burr arch-truss bridge over Buffalo Creek
Open to pedestrians

Bridge of Lions (Temporary) (St. Johns County, Florida)
Removed Acrow Pony Truss vertical lift bridge over Matanzas River on Anastasia Boulevard at St. Augustine
Removed but not replaced

City Island Bridge (Temporary) (Bronx County, New York)
Built 2015; Replaced 2017
Bailey pony truss bridge over Hutchinson River on City Island Road
Replaced by a new bridge

Division Street Bridge (new) (Cook County, Illinois)
Ordered from a catalog and assembled; opened September 30, 2014.
Bailey pony truss bridge over Chicago River North Branch Canal on West Division Street
Open to traffic

Fore River Bridge (Temporary) (Norfolk County, Massachusetts)
Erected as temporary bridge 2002; removed 2018
Lost Acrow Pony Truss bridge over Fore River on 3A Bridge Street
Removed 2018

I-5 - Skagit River Bridge (Skagit County, Washington)
Built 1955. One span collapsed May 23, 2013, Reopened with a temporary span on June 19, 2013, temporary span replaced on 15 September, 2013 and now open to traffic
Through truss bridge over Skagit River on I-5 in Mount Vernon
One span collapsed May 23, 2013, Reopened with temporary span June 19, 2013; temporary span replaced with a permanent span on 15 September, 2013 and now open to traffic

Kahekili Highway-Kahakuloa Stream Bridge (Maui County, Hawaii)
Built 1983; rehabilitated 1988
Pony truss bridge over Kahakuloa Strm on Kahekili Hwy
Open to traffic

Kuhio Highway Wailua River Bridge (NB) (Kauai County, Hawaii)
Ahukini Terminal & Railway Co. concrete deck girder "substructure" bridge built 1920; Railroad abandoned & converted to single-lane road use 1958; Dual-lane ACROW truss roadway added 2009
Concrete deck girder bridge over Wailua River on Kuhio Highway
Open to traffic

Lagoon Pond Drawbridge (Temporary) (Dukes County, Massachusetts)
Built 2010; Removed 2015
Lost Bailey pony truss bridge over Lagoon Pond on Beach Road
Replaced by a new bridge

Lake Champlain Temorary Drawbridge (Grand Isle County, Vermont)
Constructed as a temporary bridge and demolished upon completion of new fixed bridge
Temporary bascule bridge over Lake Champlain on US 2
Replaced by a new bridge

Southern Boulevard Temporary Lift Bridge (Palm Beach County, Florida)
Built 2018
ACROW pony truss bridge over Inracoastal Waterway on Southern Boulevard
Open to traffic

US4 Connecticut River Bridge (Temporary) (Grafton County, New Hampshire)
Bailey/Acrow pony truss bridge over Connecticut River Bridge on US-4
Removed but not replaced