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Bowstring truss

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A bowstring truss has a continuously curved top chord and a straight line bottom chord making it look like a archers bow laying on the bowstring. The top and bottom chord are connected with vertical and diagonal members. The diagonals are load bearing members which makes this a true truss.

Often a bowstring truss is confused with a tied arch. However, a tied arch has only vertical, or near verticals members between the arch and the deck. These are tension only members while the verticals on a bowstring are compression struts and the diagonals are tension.

118th Avenue Bridge (Washington County, Oregon)
Bowstring through truss bridge over NW 118th Avenue
Open to pedestrians only

16th Avenue Bridge (Oldest) (Linn County, Iowa)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Cedar River on 16th Avenue
Replaced by a new bridge

3rd Avenue Bridge (Original) (Linn County, Iowa)
Built 1872, Replaced 1911
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Cedar River on 3rd Avenue
Replaced by a new bridge

4th Street Bridge (Franklin County, Indiana)
Built ca. 1870's
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over East Fork Whitewater River on 4th Street


4th Street Bridge (OLD) (Dodge County, Wisconsin)
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Rock River on 4th St.


4th Street Bridge (Oldest) (Black Hawk County, Iowa)
Built 1872; Replaced 1904, Three spans relocated to Sans Souci Park.
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Cedar River on Bridge Street (4th Street)
Replaced by a new bridge

80-82-Little Baraboo River (Older) (Juneau County, Wisconsin)
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Baraboo on 80 82
Replaced by a new bridge

8th Avenue Bridge (Old) (Linn County, Iowa)
Built 1872 at 3rd Avenue; Replaced and relocated to this spot in 1911; Replaced 1938
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Cedar River on 8th Avenue
Replaced by a new bridge

Adkins Bridge (Greene County, Iowa)
(Main design: Pratt through truss)
Built ?; Steel span added 1903; Replaced 1940
Lost Pratt through truss bridge over Raccoon River on E 57 Road
Replaced by a new bridge

Alum Creek Bridge (Morrow County, Ohio)
Replaced 1986
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Alum Creek on CR 15
Replaced by new bridge

Amarillo Creek Bridge (Potter County, Texas)
Built 1910; rehabilitated 1975
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Amarillo Creek on Dewey Avenue
Open to traffic

Amnicon Falls Bridge 49-16-a (Douglas County, Wisconsin)
Built ca. 1900 by Charles Horton, moved to Amnicon Fall State Park in 1930 and roof added in 1939.
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Amnicon River on Amnicon Falls State Park Trail
Open to pedestrians

Amsterdam Bridge (3rd) (Montgomery County, New York)
(Main design: Town lattice truss)
Built 1843; North span washed away by part of the Caughnawaga Bridge & replaced iwth a bowstring 1865; Washed Away & Replaced 1876
Lost Town lattice truss bridge over Mohawk River on Road
Destroyed by flooding

Andrews Street Bridge (Old) (Monroe County, New York)
Replaced 1895
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Genessee River on Andrews Street
Replaced by a new bridge

Arbuckle Bridge (Erie County, Pennsylvania)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge on Arbuckle Road
No longer exists

Archer Avenue Swing Bridge (Cook County, Illinois)
Built 1870 to replace earlier bridge of unknown type, replaced 1906
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over South Fork of South Branch Chicago River on Archer Avenue
Replaced by a new bridge

Augusta/ Turtle Creek Bridge (Bracken County, Kentucky)
Built ca. 1880, possibly relocated here ca. 1920
Bowstring Pony truss bridge over Turtle Creek on Long Stretch Road
Bridge was relocated to Henderson County, KY

Austin Bridge (Neosho County, Kansas)
Bowstring through truss bridge over Neosho River, 2.2 mi. east and 2.9 mi. south of Chanute
Removed but not replaced, bowstring relocated and preserved.

Austin-Santa Fe Park Bridge (Neosho County, Kansas)
Built 1872 near Chanute by the King Iron Bridge Co. Moved downstream ca. 1910. Relocated to Santa Fe Park in Chanute, Kansas.
Relocated Bowstring through truss bridge over Little Turkey Creek
Open to pedestrians

Ayrults Bridge (Dutchess County, New York)
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Wappinger Creek on Road
Replaced by a new bridge

Barber Creek Bridge (Rock Island County, Illinois)
People's Power Company Truck fell through the bridge & replaced 1916
Lost Bowstring truss bridge over Barber Creek on road
Collapsed

Beach Road Bridge (Tompkins County, New York)
Built 1873 by the King Bridge Co. Preserved as a pedestrian bridge in 2003.
Bowstring pony truss bridge over West Branch Cayuga Inlet on Beach Road
Open to pedestrians

Beatty Mills Bridge (Armstrong County, Pennsylvania)
Built ca. 1875 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Co
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Buffalo Creek on TR 659
Replaced with concrete bridge in 2008, trusses in storage

Beauty Spot Bridge (Orange County, New York)
Bowstring pony truss bridge


Beaver Creek Bridge (Crawford County, Iowa)
Built 1945
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Beaver Creek on 180th Street
Intact but closed to all traffic

Beaver Creek Bridge (Dallas County, Iowa)
Bowstring through truss bridge over Beaver Creek


Bedford Bridge (Bedford County, Pennsylvania)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Raystown Branch Juniata River
No longer exists

Beecher Road Bridge (Josephine County, Oregon)
Built 1948, Replaced 2005
Lost timber bowsting pony truss bridge over Grave Creek on Beecher Road
Replaced by a pre-cast girder bridge in 2005.

Belleville Bowstring Bridge (Republic County, Kansas)
Likely built ca. 1876.
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Unnamed Stream on Hiking Trail
Open to pedestrians only

Bennies Hill Road Bridge (Frederick County, Maryland)
Built ca. 1889 by the King Iron Bridge Co.
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Catoctin Creek on Bennies Hill Road
Open to traffic

Big Elm Creek Bridge (Falls County, Texas)
Built 1884
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Big Elm Creek on CR 179
Closed (Culvert to the East has washed out and is barricaded)

Big Elm Creek Bridge (Falls County, Texas)
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Elm Creek on Cr 59
Open to traffic

Big Jim Bridge (Marion County, Indiana)
Originally built in 1873 in Montgomery County, moved to Marion County
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Central Canal on trail behind Indianapolis Museum of Art in Indianapolis
Renovated and reopened for pederstrians

Big Jim Bridge (Montgomery County, Indiana)
Built ca. 1880 as a 2-span bridge over Sugar Creek, this span relocated here at a later date.
Bowstring pony truss bridge formerly over Lye Creek on CR 700 N
Moved to Indianapolis where it spans the Central Canal behind the Museum Of Art.

Bingen Road Saucon Creek (Older) (Northampton County, Pennsylvania)
Lost Bridge over Saucon Creek on Bingen Rd
Replaced by a new bridge

Black Hawk Creek Bridge (Black Hawk County, Iowa)
Built 1904
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Black Hawk Creek on Cedar Falls-Waterloo Road
Replaced by a new bridge

Blackwater River Bridge (Saline County, Missouri)
(Main design: Pratt through truss)
Abandoned truss bridge over Blackwater River on Unimproved road
Derelict/abandoned

Blue Rapids Bridge (Marshall County, Kansas)
Built 1871
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Big Blue River on 6th Street / Valley Road
No longer exists

Boner Bridge (Warrick County, Indiana)
(Main design: Bowstring through truss)
Built 1869
Bowstring through truss bridge over Little Pigeon Creek on Boner Road
Open to traffic

Brackenridge Park Bowstring (Bexar County, Texas)
Built 1880 by the King Bridge & Iron Co. Moved from unknown original location in 1937 to Brackenridge Park.
Bowstring pony truss bridge over San Antonio River on Pedestrian Walkway in Brackenridge Park
Open to pedestrians

Brandewie Bridge (Shelby County, Ohio)
Built ca. 1875
Abandoned bowstring pony truss bridge over Spring Creek on Private Drive
Derelict/abandoned

Bridge at White Mill (Monroe County, New York)
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Irondequoit Creek


Bridge of Styx (Orange County, Indiana)
Built ca. 1880
Bowstring pony truss bridge


Bridge Street Bridge (Cumberland County, Maine)
Built 1870; proved defective and replaced 1871.
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Presumpscot River on Bridge Street
Replaced by a new bridge

Bridge Street-Little Platte River (Old) (Clay County, Missouri)
Lost Bowstring Through truss bridge over Little Platte on Bridge Street
Replaced by a new bridge

Bridgeview Bridge (Franklin County, Ohio)
Built in 1900 by the Brackett Bridge Co. in Scioto County, after being dismantled and stored it was restored for trail use in Franklin County.
Relocated Camelback bowstring through truss bridge over Alum Creek on Alum Creek Greenway
Open to pedestrians

Brighton Bridge (Old) (Washington County, Iowa)
Built 1867; Replaced 1908
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Skunk River on Unknown road
Replaced by a new bridge

Bristol Bridge (Older) (Elkhart County, Indiana)
Built ca. 1869 by Simon de Graff; replaced in 1907 and one span relocated to Island Park in Elkhart where it stood until being destroyed by a storm in 1952.
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over St Joseph River on Division Street
Replaced by a new bridge

Broad Street-Butternut Creek (Older) (Otsego County, New York)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Butternut Creek on Broad Street
Replaced by a new bridge

Broadway Street Bridge (Older) (Harvey County, Kansas)
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Sand Creek on Broadway
Replaced by a new bridge

Broadway Street Bridge (Older) (Branch County, Michigan)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over St Joseph River on Broadway Street in Union City.
Replaced by a new bridge

Bruster Hill Bridge (Shelby County, Illinois)
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge
No longer exists

Bryan Ford Bridge (Miami County, Kansas)
Fabricated 1870 as part of a three span bowstring over Bull Creek at Osawatomie, single span relocated here 1903
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Middle Creek on Plum Creek Road
Replaced by a new bridge

Buck Creek Bridge (Crawford County, Iowa)
Built 1945; Rehabilitated 1973
Pony truss bridge over Buck Creek on Buck Creek Avenue in Buck Grove
Closed to thru traffic; privately owned

Buggs Ferry Bridge (Noxubee County, Mississippi)
Abandoned bowstring pony truss bridge over Noxubee River on rural road
Open to at least pedestrians on hunting trail

Bull Creek Bridge (Miami County, Kansas)
Built 1870, removed, spans separated and relocated in 1903
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Bull Creek on (Old) Kansas City Road
Spans separated and reused, one span relocated again to a park in Topeka.

Bulman Bridge (Hamilton County, Texas)
Built 1884 by the King Bridge Co. over Leon River on CR 301. Relocated and restored in Pecan Creek Park in 1996.
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Pecan Creek on a pedestrian path in Pecan Creek Park
Open to pedestrians

Bunker Hill Bridge (Crawford County, Ohio)
Built 1881; relocated 1987
Bowstring pony truss originally over Sycamore Creek in Crawford County, now relocated to the Ohio Historical Society
Open to pedestrians only at the state historical complex in Columbus.

Burlington Street Bridge (Old) (Johnson County, Iowa)
Built 1860, Collapsed 1863 due to a herd of cattle, Replaced 1915.
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Iowa River on Burlington Street
Replaced by new bridge

Burton Lane Bridge (Morgan County, Indiana)
Built 1875 by the Massillon Bridge Co.; replaced 1998; parts currently in storage.
Bowstring arch bridge over Indian Creek on Burton Lane, in storage after being damaged by truck.
Replaced by new bridge, but parts in storage

Bushnell's Bridge (Otsego County, New York)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Butternut Creek
No longer exists

Caledonia Bridge (Marion County, Ohio)
Built 1873 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company
Abandoned bowstring through truss bridge over Olentangy River on abandoned road just off of Caledonia Northern Road in Caledonia
Abandoned

Calvert Street Bridge (Baltimore, Maryland)
Built 1878. Demolished ca. 1970s.
Lost Bowstring Truss Bridge on Calvert Street
Demolished

Cambridge Bridge (Story County, Iowa)
(Main design: Bowstring through truss)
Built 1876; Replaced 1916
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over South Skunk River on Road
Replaced by a new bridge

Canajoharie-Palatine Bridge(1) 32-39-03x (Montgomery County, New York)
(Main design: Other through truss)
Built 1826; Burned 1901
Lost covered through truss bridge over Mohawk River
Destroyed by fire

Canal Footbridge (Stark County, Ohio)
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Ohio and Erie Canal on a pedestrian walkway (link to Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail)
Open to pedestrians only

Canalside Park Squire Wipple Truss Bridges (Erie County, New York)
Built 2001 as a reconstruction of the 1850's bridge in same location using Squire Wipple's original blueprints.-per James McCray
Bridge over park on Pedestrian
Open to pedestrians only

Catoctin Furnace Bridge (Frederick County, Maryland)
Built ca. 1872
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Little Hunting Creek on a pedestrian path
Open to pedestrians

Catskill Creek Bridge (Greene County, New York)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Catskill Creek on Maple Avenue
Replaced by a new bridge

Cedar Creek Bridge (Warren County, Illinois)
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Cedar Creek
No longer exists

Cedar Creek Watts Lane Bridge (Bastrop County, Texas)
Built 2004
Bowstring through truss bridge over Cedar Creek on Watts Ln
Open to traffic

Cedar Grove Bowstring (Franklin County, Indiana)
Built ca. 1880 by the King Iron Bridge Company; destroyed in the 1913 flood.
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Whitewater River
Destroyed in the great 1913 flood

Cedar Road Bridge KRAPE PARK (Stephenson County, Illinois)
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Yellow Creek
No longer exists

Centennial Bridge (Johnson County, Iowa)
Built 1876, replaced 1916.
Lost Truss bridge over Iowa River on Iowa Avenue
Replaced by new bridge

Center Street-D&H Canal (Ulster County, New York)
Lost Bridge over D and H Canal on Center Street
Removed but not replaced

Central Avenue Bridge (Linn County, Iowa)
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over indian Creek on Central Avenue
Replaced by a new bridge

Champlain Canal Bowstring Comstock NY (Washington County, New York)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over canal
Replaced by a new bridge

Chili Mills Bridge (Monroe County, New York)
Built 1877 by the King Bridge Company
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Black Creek on Stuart Road
Open to pedestrians only

Churchill Street Bowstring (Dutchess County, New York)
Built ?; Dismantled 1978/Replaced 1979 and put into storage for reuse: Parts have disappeared
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Fishkill Creek on Churchill Street
Replaced by a new bridge

Cincinnati Bridge (Pawnee County, Nebraska)
Built in 1879 by the King Iron Bridge Company; washed out in 1995
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over South Fork Big Nemaha River on Former Road
Destroyed by flooding

City Park Bridge (Taylor County, Iowa)
Bowstring through truss bridge over Snake River


Clay Mills Bridge (Jones County, Iowa)
Built ca 1871; Removed ?
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over South Fork Maquoketa River on Road
Removed

Clear Creek Mill Bridge (Johnson County, Iowa)
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Clear Creek on Road
Replaced by a new bridge

Cloverport Bridge (Breckinridge County, Kentucky)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Clover Creek on Main Street
Demolished

Cohocton River Bridge (Steuben County, New York)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Cohocton River
No longer exists

Coldwater Bridge (Branch County, Michigan)
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge
Superstructure replaced

Collamer Bowstring Bridge (Whitley County, Indiana)
Built ca. 1880
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Eel River on County Road 900 West
Replaced by a new bridge

Columbus Sandusky Road-Honey Creek Bridge(Older) (Seneca County, Ohio)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Honey Creel on Columbus Sandusky Road
Replaced by a new bridge

Commerce Street Bridge (Older) (Dallas County, Texas)
Built 1871; Replaced 1890 and relocated; One span went upstream to Grauwyler, the other downstream to Miller's Ferry.
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Trinity River on Commerce Street
Replaced by a new bridge

Commercial Slip Squire Wipple Truss Bridge (Erie County, New York)
Built 2001 as a reconstruction of the 1850's bridge in same location using Squire Wipple's original blueprints.
Bowstring pony truss bridge over the Erie Canal on a pedestrian walkway
Open to pedestrians

Commercial Street bowstring truss bridge (Marion County, Oregon)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge
No longer exists

Conestoga Creek Bridge (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)
Built in 1869 as a bowstring pony, stringers placed ca 1950 carry the load
Steel stringer bridge with bowstring trusses over Conestoga Creek on T848 Conestoga Creek Road
Open to traffic

Conewango Creek Bridge (Chautauqua County, New York)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Conewango Creek on Main
Replaced by a new bridge

Constantine-Washington Street Bowstring Bridge (St. Joseph County, Michigan)
Built in August 1869 by Simon de Graff; replaced in 1905.
Lost Bridge over St Joseph River
Replaced by a new bridge

Coon Rapids Bowstring (Carroll County, Iowa)
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Middle Raccoon River on Main Street
Replaced by a new bridge

Coonhunter's Lodge Bridge (Jones County, Iowa)
Built 1876,
Bowstring pony truss bridge
Open to pedestrians

Cooper's Tubular Arch Bridge (Onondaga County, New York)
Built in 1886 in Canajoharie, New York. Relocated to present location in 1975.
Bowstring through truss bridge over the Erie Canal on a pedestrian walkway in Old Erie Canal State Park
Open to pedestrians

Coopers Falls Bowstring Bridge (St. Lawrence County, New York)
Built in 1870 by the King Bridge Company; collapsed in 1872
Lost Bowstring through truss bridge over Oswegatchie River on Lost road
Collapsed 2 years after it was built and was never replaced

Corbett's Mill Bridge (Jones County, Iowa)
Built 1871; Bypassed by a new road in 1958 and passed into private ownership.
Bowstring pony truss bridge over Maquoketa River on Abandoned Road in Scotch Grove
Destroyed by flooding Saturday July 24, 2010

County Line Bowstring Bridge (Cloud County, Kansas)
Built in 1876 as part of a four span bridge in the Concordia vicinity.
Bowstring truss bridge over West Creek on Republic Road, northwest of Hollis
Open to one-lane traffic on a low-maintenance road

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