Photos
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
 |
Condition as of November 2008 The flood of 2008 washed away the eastern span on June 13, 2008. Photo taken by Quinn Phelan in November 2008 |
 |
As seen from the Sutliff side Note how the sturdy supports were designed to deflect winter ice flowing downstream - from right to left in this photo. Photo taken by Quinn Phelan in November 2008 |
History
Provided by Iowa DOTDescription: The Sutliff Bridge spans the Cedar River in the small town of Sutliff, named after long-time resident Allen C. Sutliff. Dry crossings of the Cedar River at this location date to the establishment of the Allan Sutliff's Ferry Service in 1838. Sandbars eventually formed in the river, however, rendering the ferry inoperative, therefore forcing travelers to make a long detour in order to find a suitable crossing. Dissatisfied with this state of affairs, area residents petitioned county supervisors for a permanent structure at Sutliff. City officials finally voted in December 1896 to construct a steel bridge at the old ferry site. To design the bridge, the county turned to an engineer named G.W. Wynn who, it appears, had rather dubious credentials. Referring to Wynn, one Iowa City newspaper reported that the bridge builder's "work has been severely criticized by engineers of high standing." Fortunately, the Sutliff Bridge proved to be a sound structure. The county awarded the contract to erect the bridge to J.R. Sheely and Company of Des Moines on January 8, 1897. Completed for approximately $12,000 in April 1898, the bridge was the longest in the county at that time. Over a thousand people, responding to a local newspaper's request for "All hands to turn out and have a good time," gathered at the new bridge on a beautiful June morning that year for its opening day ceremonies and celebratory picnic. Many decades later, area residents again rallied around their beloved bridge when they worked together to raise money to purchase the Sutliff Bridge from Johnson County in 1984. Currently used as a pedestrian bridge in connection with a surrounding public park, the Sutliff Bridge retains an exceptionally high degree of both historical and structural integrity. It is an outstanding example of an uncommon early wagon truss design.
Facts
- Overview
- Three span through truss bridge over Cedar River on CR F14
- Location
- Johnson County, Iowa
- Status
- One span destroyed by flooding
- History
- Built 1897-98; destroyed by flooding June 13, 2008
- Builders
- - Fair-Williams Bridge & Manufacturing Co.
- George W. Wynn
- J.R. Sheely & Co.
- Design
- Three pin-connected, 11-panel Parker through trusses
- Dimensions
-
Length of largest span: 214.5 ft.
Total length: 825 ft.
Deck width: 16 ft.
- Also called
- Sutliff's Ferry Bridge (original name)
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +41.83954, -91.39231 (decimal degrees)
41°50'22" N, 91°23'32" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 15/633480/4633210 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Solon
- Inventory number
- BH 36704 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- December 18, 2008: Essay added by Quinn Phelan
- December 11, 2008: New photos from Quinn Phelan
- June 16, 2008: New photos from Historic American Engineering Record
Comments
As of Sept 08 2 spans of the bridge remain. A pin inspection will be done. If they pass, well, they probably will be saved. Possibly a footbridge will be built to the 2 spans. Regardless, many people hope that the 2 spans can remain. The collapsed span is nearby and will have to be removed. The Bridge Authority in charge of the bridge has been seeking donations. Sutliff Bridge is a special place. Beautiful even with 2 spans. SAVE THE BRIDGE!!!
It saddens me that one of Iowa's more historical through truss bridges had to be sacrificed to all the recent flooding; the Sutliff bridge from what I saw was one of the best through trusses around.