My grandfather, Theodore Klebba, owned a 1,000 acre farm on the Belle side of the bridge bordering the Gasconade River. I've walked across the bridge about 7 or 8 times to visit my uncle Adolph Klebba who passed away about 6 years ago. I started my walk from the Freeburg railroad tunnel (about 4 miles from Gascondy). My mother & father were caught on the bridge by a train when they were dating...they had to stand on the railroad tie platform which protrudes out over the valley. Needless to say, it shook them up pretty good.
From old maps, it looks like the older of these two bridges was built at the time that the "Liberty Bend cutoff" was created (circa 1949). Prior to that time, the Missouri River made a horseshoe bend to the north of these bridges. It also appears that in the 1930's and 1940's there was a bridge that crossed that old "Liberty Bend" channel of the Missouri river (north of the location of the current bridges). Is anything known about that old bridge over the old "Liberty Bend" channel of the Missouri River? I haven't been able to find any information about it except to see it on 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1941 Jackson County maps. It's clearly not around today, as the Highway 291 bridges at that location (i.e. the location of the old channel) are modern-style bridges, probably built no earlier than the 1970's or 1980's.
67.30 Sufficirncy rating
What is the rating of this bridge as of August, 2007. I have always been afraid on this one and the collapse in Minnesota has not helped.
I grew up in Mt. Carmel and have driven over this bridge many times over the years -- even on bicycle. The last time was in the summer of 2006 -- in the dark. Terrifying! Driving on a bridge with a wooden deck (with nice holes so you can see the swirling waters of the Wabash below) is just not something you expect to do in the 21st century.
As for its history: allegedly it was originally constructed by the King Bridge Company in Wilmington, Delaware in 1897, then bought by the railroad, dismantled, and rebuilt on its current site in 1906.
This bridge, with a 3-ton weight limit, has now been closed to traffic.
I am not positive on this fact, but I believe the Beardstown Bridge was built by the American Bridge Company. Is this correct? Also, my mother was brought to Beardstown in 1955, by my grandfather, who was a Metallurgist and a construction worker for the Beardstown Bridge. Thanks.
Ryan F.
I live in Madison,have all my life, This bridge is so unsafe,Our Mayor has been trying forever to get a new one started but this belongs to Kentucky and they say there is no money available, a group of kids did a report on it 2 yrs ago took pictures of the rusted out bolts and beams on this thing when traffic crosses it you can see them wiggle back and forth, Why cant we get something done before we end up like those poor people in Minnesota? Kentucky says they will put it in a 10yr plan.Please help us this is the only bridge that crosses the river for a 40 mile stretch in either direction it was built in 1928-29 not built for all the heavy traffic it carries everyday.
My grandfather, AV Burch Sr lobbied for many years and finally was successful after being appointed to the Indiana highway commission, in getting the State of Indiana and Kentucky to construct the bridge from Evansville to Henerson. The complaint from Kentucky was that their residents would cross the bridge to shop and spend money in Evansville.
This bridge will probably be the next one to fall. It is so heavily traveled and is in such bad shape. There is no way it will last until 2015. Right now there are lane closures on the weekends and traffic is stopped on the bridge with all of the lanes full of semis and cars. This is just not safe. I try to avoid this bridge as much as I can. I just wish we could do something about this before we have a tragedy here in Cincinnati.
i was wandering about the other bridge that was east of this railroad bridge. does any one have any photos or any history of the bridge? what i can remember it was a drawbridge.
There isn't even that much of the bridge showing. The whole town was flooded in 1945 (including this bridge area). There is no longer any part of the bridge showing above water.
we tried to save this bridge, but we found out the county was going to tear it down too late. they tried to keep it quiet, but some people in our county found out ,we gathered together and fought to save it , but had no luck. one landowner fought against us, because he didnt like people hanging around the bridge
You have one photo of the joint that shows a missing piece of concrete adjacent to the joint it self. This chunk fell out during the spring of 1982 and MoDOT was contacted regarding this (As it fell into the water below)
Just goes to show you how good MoDOT really is, 25 years later it's to be replaced, but only in conjunction with a highway improvement program that was originally initiated by the Chamber of Commerce of Poplar Bluff some 25 miles south of said bridge.
Just received word this bridge is being closed as of 8-2-07.
"The Fenton Area Chamber of Commerce announced today that St. Louis County has decided to close the Old Gravois Road Bridge over the Meramec River effective immediately.
More information is available at 314-615-5000."
This bridge is now a one lane bridge. There is a stoplight at either end that allows traffic to cross only one direction at a time. The other lane has been converted to a pedestrian and bicycle lane.
Being from the Dayton/Cincinnati area, I won't drive on this bridge for fear of a collapse. It is scary, and unsafe, especially for what it was used for. I, for one, will not be too terribly sad to see it go.
I lived in Cincinnati for over 30 years, befor moving to Michigan.
I feel that this is a chance for both Kentucky and Ohio to fix this problem of an eye-sore that has graced our states for over 40 years.
Why not replace it with a cable-stayed bridge or a nice bridge like the one being built in California (Oakland Bay Bridge).
This would give the area a much needed make over, to go with all the new construction on both sides of the Ohio river in the area.
This bridge needs to be replaced, especally since the collapes of the major bridge in Minneapolis Minnasota.
When I was about 14 years old I lived at Wyatt, Mo. This was in 1947. My friend Irvin Palmer and I used to ride our bikes from Wyatt, Mo. to Cairo, Ill. It was a fun trip and we weren't a bit nervous about crossing the bridge. Sometimes when the big trucks were on the bridge at the same time, it did shake a little, but we were not concerned. The bridge has always brought pleasant memories to me.
This fine old two span bridge sits on the old stretch of SR 1 on the south side of Cedar Grove. It has tubular center piers which I don't know if they're steel or concrete.The closure is probably another case of where the county did not want to maintain the bridges use for vehicles anymore. The only thing I saw wrong was some of the lengthwise planking was missing. The weight limit at the time of the closure was ten tons. I just hope the county does not take after nearby Ohio with bad demolition cases. There were apparently a few more bridges of this type in the area and only this one survives. There must have been a twin structure at New Trenton which fell into disrepair and was torn down in 1992. I think this bridge is still good and strong to where it could be restored rather easily. It would be a great project to save a bridge like this if only it could happen.
The new building on the south side of this bridge could very well be a covered bridge restaurant.
I really miss this old bridge. It was a popular hang-out for the local high schoolers. The east approach featured a rather sudden 90 degree turn which then wrapped around a steep hillside (gravel roadway of course). There was also a small cave in the bluff above the bridge which was destroyed during excavation for the new (boring) bridge.
If anyone has photos of the old Rockhouse bridge, please post them!
This bridge was replaced with a concrete adjacent box beam bridge in the summer of 2004. I worked on that project for PennDOT, and was heartbroken that such an historic bridge would be replaced without any attempt to preserve it.
A little different shot - from the southwest.
Second shot, looking straight on from the south.
A wonderful bridge.
This Marsh Engineering designed arch bridge is one of the famous arch bridges designed by Marsh along the Lincoln Highway and is one of two extant. (The most famous is the Raccoon River bridge in Greene County, see #162260.) The original 1912 alignment of the Lincoln Highway passed through Beaver but moved to this road when this bridge was built.
The stunning design of this bridge also provides its durability.
One of five identical bridges built in this area, this is the last survivor. It has been threatened in the past because of the narrow deck - the exact feature that caused the demise of the other four - and the high arch railings that block large farm equipment from using it.
The bridge is located on 210th Street, just off B Avenue, a few miles north of Beaver.
If you look closely, you can see that this is also a popular nesting place for barn swallows.
You can see photos of the restoration of this bridge on the website of the Iowa Chapter of The Lincoln Highway Association. http://www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org/iowa/iowa/booneCo/beaver.html
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
This bridge is located off 200th Street on L Road, a dead-end road, and provides the only access over the double-tracked Union Pacific mainline that some proptery owners have. The fence posts along the road leading away from the bridge appear to have been cut from a shoe tree.
This is a virtual twin to the pony truss bridge listed as #77840. The twin tracks shown continue west, cross the Des Moines River on the Kate Shelly Bridge (see Truss Bridge #77850 for more about the Kate Shelly Bridge) then curves to the southwest and goes under #77840.
The bridge is all wood timbered and wood decked. It has little trafic but appears to be well maintained.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
The 1940 Benjamin Humphreys Bridge will be coming down in 2008 or 2009 and is replaced to a new bridge slightly upstream.
This is definitely one of the coolest bridges I've ever come across.
The east end of the bridge (5th photo in the sequence) makes a lot of noise. The road is closed, due to construction traffic where work is being done on the Kate Shelly bridge. For a Sunday afternoon, on a closed road, there was an awful lot of traffic on this bridge!
The last photo in this sequence is of the High Level Kate Shelly Bridge. That bridge carries the double mainline of the Union Pacific across the Des Moines River and is named for a young woman who, in 1881, risked her life to save a Chicago & North Western Railway passenger express train. The perspective of the photo belies the 184' height of the Kate Shelly Bridge, which was built in 1901 and was the first bridge named for a woman. http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/ia.html
The bridge in front of the Kate Shelly bridge is a temporary bridge to allow construction equipment to cross the river.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
This bridge, on 200th Avenue, is just upriver from the Kate Shelly High Level Bridge. It is a wood decked truss and a cheap thrill to drive across. You can hear the bridge creak when you walk on it, let alone drive on it.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
Hi,
I'm finishing a graduate degree focused on the history of the Canyon area in Yellowstone. The bridge you have shown is called "Canyon Bridge." It spans Jay Creek as it joins the Yellowstone River. It is not part of the Artist Point road.
Chittenden Memorial Bridge spans the Yellowstone River at the start of the Artist Point Road.
Many history books on Yellowstone will corroborate this information (books by Haines, Whittlesey, etc.) as will my thesis which should be finished this fall. It will be downloadable from the Montana State University website.
Diane
I guess that comment was a little boring, so I'll expand. The trucking company my father drives for has a yearly "kids week" where sons/daughters/grandsons/ect. get to go for a ride with whoever it is they're related to. Well this was my first year, and my dad's destination at the time was Sikeston, Missouri from Atlanta, Georgia. After crossing the Ohio river span, i thought we were done with narrow bridges, oh was i wrong. We come around the sharp curve, and there it was. I didnt want to cross. But i had no choice, and i wasnt going to throw a fit. All in all its not a bad ride across, unless theres another truck comming from the opposite direction...which there was. A lot of mirror clicking happens on that bridge...lol
Oh man. I went over this bridge in a big truck back in July of 2002..i was ten. And ill tell you this. I was never more scared of crossing a bridge in my life!
This bridge is properly known as the Wittpenn Bridge, named after the mayor of Jersey City at the time of its construction, Otto Wittpenn. Now that I know this site exists I will be happy to try to provide photos of some of the bridges in the NJ/NY area. I assume the more famous ones are covered, but I know and appreciate them all, even the more obscure ones.
Bridge has been replaced with welded pony.
Bridge has been replaced with welded pony.
the wildcat trestle is old and in bad shape I wonder if it will be used again?
christian b.
ps:get me some pictures when it falls
its in bad shape I hope it doesent fall any time soon
christian b.
p.s where does it end?and get a picture when it falls
the bridge is in good shape exept the callapsing part it should be fixed and used.
Slightly different view.
Bridge is in "Weird Ohio" as one of the cry baby bridges. Supposed to be haunted by ghost of drowned baby. I suspect that is part of the reason for so much graffiti.
Dog is much cuter from the front.
I believe this is the Eugene Covered Bridge on the north side of Eugene/Cayuga. Some records and books indicate that it was built in 1873 while others say it was built in 1885. Most books say it was bypassed way back in 1973. I also think the bridge was rehabilitated again at some time. Whats hard for me to remember if there was a new building of some sort on the south end of the bridge and what it was. There were a lot of cars parked there when I was at the bridge.
This bridge has been reopened to foot traffic on July 1, 2007. The city of Warsaw got a grant to redo the historic bridge. The new deck is complete. They are hoping to get it painted and lights put back on the bridge. There are also plans on tying in a walking path from Drake Harbor to the bridge.
WOW!!! These are a couple of scarrry-looking bridges! Kinda reminds me of a picture of the old Vicksburg, Ms bridge that I saw many years ago in Trains magazine. I am actually from Chillicothe, Mo, quite a bit north of these bridges, and we do not have any bridge as scary as thes two beasts. Although, this does give me an idea for my next river scene on a model railroad. How about a highway bridge in between two monstrously long black railroad bridges! I love this website, and it is now one of my favorites. It will help with my bridge construction for my railroad. Thank you for posting these pictures. Just a quick question: does anyone know why the state of Nebraska is not included in the gallery of Missouri bridges?
Eames Bridge near Gladstone (written on back of photos). Photos from 1952
I am a former resident of Thayer MO and as a teenager hung out at the old bridge, during this time the bridge was open to trafic, but soon closed due to damages to the bridge. My Great Grandfather, Andrew Jackson, was an officer of the law and charged people .05 to cross by walking and .10 to cross on horse back. This occured soon after the bridge opened.
The old farm home near the bridge belongs to Polly Berkheimer who grew up there. I visited Polly in 2007 when she was 93 because I found I'm related to her. My grandparents were married on this farm in 1902. This is a very beautiful spot.
my father grew up in mississippi, but we were raised in oklahoma. we always went back to see his family, at least once a year and often twice. the old bridge was unlike any other; pretty much an exercise in terror! i remember how the steel curbs along the side were polished to a brilliant shine from the truckers rubbing their tires as they would slowly make their way, creeping bumper-to-bumper across the river. if the slow crawl and the close quarters weren't enough, then the train would come rumbling down the bridge, shaking the whole thing! that must be an INCREDIBLY strong structure to support all the weight it has. sadly, dad died just a few months before the new bridge opened, and he never got to drive it. now i cannot even drive over the old bridge to reminisce about my fond memories of dad, mississippi, and our trips. *sigh*...
Unfortunately, I think this bridge is scheduled for or in the process of being replaced. This was according to another website. Traffic on US 231 is very heavy and I believe the bridge has been strained by it. I sure hate to see a massive four-span structure to like this go. I only wish a new road could have been built further away if only things would work that way. I guess the only other example like this in Indiana is the SR 57 White River Bridge in Greene County but only it goes slightly up/downhill.
Tom
I could'nt agree with you more about this bridge and definately think that all remaining one's can and should be retained. I like this bridge so much that I had business cards made for a job I was working on last year.
I like to see them retained in their original location, but if not, efforts like the Boyd bridge in Decatur County (Sand Creek 700S) are the next best thing.
Tony
This bridge was closed down with the purpose of not being opened ever again about 2 months ago. The small one that went over the little branch(there's actually 2 bridges here, one right after the other) had structural damage that they said would cost too much to repair(they had done some work on it a few years ago). They even closed off the walking part of it. They are suppose to build a new bridge up stream (just downstream of where the Dewitt bridge is that has been closed down for several years) in about 2009. Yep, right now there are 3 bridges closed over Joachim in DeSoto(July 2007)
When I came home from work this past week, it looked like they already had this bridge down. They've had the road closed to it for over a week now.
James Barber Rd, E of US 42. Photo 7/5/07.
On Tarbox Cemetery Rd, just W of US42. Looks like a recent rehab was done. Photo taken 7/5/07. Area cleared for easy viewing on west end of bridge. At Tarbox Cemetery & US42 is the first rest area in Ohio.
Visited the site 7/5/07. Bridge has been replaced.
Wells Street Bridge - access from Superior Street on the south and Wells Street on the north.
The way this bridge was extensively rehabilitated is quite an example on how an old iron bridge can be. When I first saw this bridge, it was almost derelict buried in tree vegatation looking almost too rikety to drive over and the road on the approaches was close to washing away. After hearing about the rehab, I just had to check it out only to wonder if this was the same bridge. It looked like a totally different bridge in a nice setting with the stone abutments high above the creek and the posted limit went from TWO tons to FOURTEEN tons. There's plenty of old iron bridges which were demolished which I wish could have been rehabed like the Tobias bridge.
Also, there was a derelict iron truss bridge over Indian Kentuck Creek outside of Brooksburg on the Ohio River which I saw a few years ago. I don't know if it still exists or if it gave way.
At one time in the 1960's there were three swinging bridges near Warsaw. One was east of the town over the Grand River, one was near the marina in town and the third was seveal miles down 7 Highway I think. There was a little Inn or tavern sort of place on the north side of the bridge. I remember a trucker took too much weight over it, and it went down. He and his wife and child were killed in the accident. Maybe a check in the old papers would lead you to the answer on the names of the bridges
6/24/07
6/24/07
Very cool. 6/24/07
Very nice bridge. 6/24/07
6/24/07 - Abutments are there. Bridge is gone.
What a gorgeous bridge! Photo 6/24/07
the palmer slough trestle is in such good shape it should not have been abandoned it be reconected to a railroad!
the palmer slough trestle is in such good shape it should not have been abandoned it be reconected to a railroad!
I remember this bridge as a young man my first job was in north kc. and the bridge had a toll 20 cents one way and 10cents back.
This is the Boyd Bridge at it's new home in Greensburg's city park. It was built by the Pan American Bridge Company of New Castle,IN. This is absolutely one of the best historic bridge restorations I have ever seen. I was overwhelmed by the effort to save this rare span built by one of my hometown firms. It is a must see if you are in the area.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
This bridge was built in 1904 by the Converse Bridge Company of Chattanooga, Tenn.
Mr. Converse had a working relationship with the Pan American Bridge Co. of New Castle (He would eventually become the head engineer for Pan Am), and the trusses for this bridge may have been manufactured by them. It remains closed with an uncertain future.
Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.
Just cruising the INTERNET picking up information on the floods affecting Independence, Kansas.
My Family lived there from 1963 to 1968.
One of my brothers and myself (on a mutual dare) walked across the TOP of this bridge (on the bows) to the other side.
Back then....it was known simply as the "Old Condemned Bridge".
Someone spotted us...and called the police, we were nearly on the other side when they arrived...and we hurried to get across when they starting shouting at us.
Once across, we ran quite a long way up the river to the old spillway where we crossed back over.
We then made our way through the woods back to our home at Myrtle and East Second street. My mother would have skinned us alive had she ever found out about that stupid stunt.
Independence was a great town to live in, in those days gone by.
JMM
Oops.....sorry
you'll have to cock your head sideways to look at that truss detail pic.
This early(1911) rivited span is a product of the Brookville Bridge Company of Brookville, Ohio. The bridge was restored a few years back. You used to be able to see this bridge from SR46, But the highway was relocated and now it can be tricky to find.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
Nice little riveted thru truss that has been restored. Don't know who the builder was, but it's interesting to note that this bridge carries markings from 3 steel companies- Cambria, J&L, and Illinois.
Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.
Photos taken 06/23/07. Bridge has a full wooden deck, in good condition. There is a dam and ruins of an old mill just downstream; I included a shot of the bridge from the millrace. There are also remains of piers from another bridge downstream of the dam, though I don't know their history.
Photos taken 06/23/07. Steel has Carnegie mark--hard to read in picture. Main span has concrete deck, but approaches have wooden planks. This bridge is in regular use as access to the Boy Scout camp at Brown Memorial Park.
Photos taken March, 2007. Visible from Highway 18, a short way east of Zeandale.
Replaced--2006?
On Carlson Rd.; photos taken 06/20/07.
Visited this bridge last week - June 2007 - still open to traffic.
I have many fond memories of going to the Cape via this bridge. Looking at the picture brings back many memories of going there with my parents and another family we were (and still are) friends with. I used to think of the Cape as being heavenly because of the wonderful smells of the ocean and the atmosphere of the quaint cottage in brewster we would stay in. This bridge was always a wecoming sight for me after miles of the seemingly interminable I-495 and then Rte. 25. It was followed by the welcoming letters that said "CAPE COD" made out of bushes in the middle of the rotary that appeared right after the bridge
around the mid 1960's when I was Ayoung boy my brothers and sisters and myself would swim under this bridge sometimes joined by our cousins who lived in Fairfield some of my best memories were made in this small comunity.
This bridge was originally built in 1886 as the Cincinnati Southern Railway bridge. Originally built to 5 foot (1524 mm) broad gauge as the Cincinnati Southern Railway, the line was converted to standard gauge, 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm), in 13 hours in 1886. It was rebuilt to its present form in 1920. The rounded pier at the north end was part of the original structure.
After it was converted to standard gauge, the railroad was renamed the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (CNO&TP). The railroad and the bridge were built and are still owned by the City of Cincinnati. It was operated by the Southern Railway, now part of the Norfolk Southern Railway system.
In 1886, in a newspaper article about the first trip down the new line, a Cincinnati reporter wrote that he was riding on the Chattanooga Choo Choo. This was the first use of the alliterative phrase which became the famous Glenn Miller song, written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon.
Today the bridge is home to the rare peregrine falcon. Since 1997, they have nested atop the counter weight on the south tower. This is one of only two nesting pairs in Tennessee and makes the bridge a hot spot with local birdwatchers.
Alright, ive been trying to get back on here for a while now, but i have been having computer problems, sorry about the false report. We drove all the way up to it and i supose the first time we checked. all the construction equipment was further from the bridge than expected and since it was storming that night. I couldnt see the bridge even though i got out. but i have been since and it looks to be that they just corrected some problems with the entrance to the bridge, sorry once again, next time i report anything ill give it a few months to keep an eye on stuff. Have a good day....
As a kid we would have dad drive us to the bridge to look at the black river and the rock garden below. Mom would always come but did not necessarily like driving over the bridge. This was 35 years ago. The new bridge is a nicely constructed bridge. However, removing the old bridge took a little history away from Lesterville and Reynolds county. What a shame.
I am from around Frankfort but now reside in Elkhart In. Anyway I walked the bridge two summers ago it is a cool place to visit if ya like this kinda stuff!! Thanks for the pictures. I hope others will take the time to look at them.
We crossed this bridge going deer hunting on the White River north of Des Arc every year (traveling from Marked Tree). It was the highlight of the trip for me as a youngster. I was just showing this picture of the swing bridge to my daughter and reminiscing about old times.
please post this photo taken in winter of 2006
View attachment #1 (Microsoft Office Document, 8639488 bytes)
Photo taken in the winter of 2006
View attachment #1 (Microsoft Office Document, 2233344 bytes)
Bridge is on 230th St, between Meadowlark & Prairie Creek
On 180th St, between Meadowlark & Indianola. Photo taken 5/18/07.
Rocky Fork Rd, just NW of the jct w/Rain Rock Rd. This is just a little bit N of OH-79, near the town of Rocky Fork. I believe that creek is also named Rocky Fork.
FYI: Putnam County is the only county that has all of its covered bridges functional and which can all be driven over.
This bridge replaced a ferry between Newport and Jamestown, RI. I have many memories of the ferry, including more than once rounding the bend in Jamestown trying to catch a certain ferry and seeing it pulling out of the slip!
In 2001 beautiful lights were placed on the spans for nightime illumination. My daughter once told me that the arches of the Roman Baths were as high as the arches in the uprights of this bridge.
Updating the info about the Cattle Bridge that was between Railroad Bridge 3 & 4, it was demolished in November of 1974.
This bridge has now been replaced by a LARGE concrete bridge. Anyone with pictures should post!
Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Single lane bridge over SCL railroad bed. Photos taken June 17, 2007.
Photo taken June 16, 2007 from HENRIETTA III river boat.
When I was a child I remember being scared to go to my great grandmother's house because we had to cross this bridge. There were areas where you could wait if some other vehicle was on the bridge, but you could not always see well enough to decide if the bridge was occupied. It was a one laner. I remember one time crossing in a wind and the boards were rolling up and down in dips. We met 2 milk trucks in the middle and their side of the bridge was about 3 feet lower than ours because of the weight differences. I thought the paint would scrape off the car as we passed them. I must have been around 8 years old and I thought we were going in the river. When I see footage of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge dissaster it takes my memories back to this bridge in Arkansas.