Wagon Ford Bridge
Facts
- Overview
- Pony truss bridge over Lick Creek on TR 176 in Springfield
- Location
- Sangamon County, Illinois
- Status
- Closed to traffic in Summer 2010
- History
- Built 1900
- Design
- Pin-connected, 5-panel Pratt bedstead pony truss
- Dimensions
-
Length of largest span: 65.0 ft.
Total length: 94.2 ft.
Deck width: 12.5 ft.
- Recognition
- Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
- Also called
- Lick Creek Bridge
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +39.70889, -89.73746 (decimal degrees)
39°42'32" N, 89°44'15" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/265325/4399031 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Chatham
- Average daily traffic (as of 2012)
- 50
- Inventory numbers
- IL 084-3108 (Illinois bridge number)
BH 15648 (Bridgehunter.com ID) - Inspection report (as of March 2014)
- Overall condition: Poor
Superstructure condition rating: Critical (2 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Critical (2 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Critical (2 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 15.9 (out of 100)
View more at BridgeReports.com
Update Log
- March 19, 2014: Updated by Elliott Johnson: changed bridge status to closed
- March 5, 2014: New photos from Elliott Johnson
- January 30, 2011: Updated by Anthony Dillon: Changed status as bridge is closed
- March 14, 2010: Updated by Robert Stephenson: Street view
Sources
- Dale Travis - djtravis [at] dalejtravis [dot] com
- Robert Stephenson - seinfeld99 [at] yahoo [dot] com
- Tony Dillon - spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com
- Elliott Johnson - elliottsgon15 [at] hotmail [dot] com
- IDOT Historic Bridge Database
Comments
BRIDGE BIRTHDAY PARTY, AUGUST 28, 2004
The bridge over Lick Creek on Wagon Ford Road, near Chatham, will be 120 years old on this date. According to the Highway Commissioner’s Record 1884-1891, the bridge was built by P.E. Cane of Chicago for a bid totally $993.00. The bridge is 65’ long, with a 14’ driveway. The bridge has been determined eligible for National Register of Historic Places by IDOT and IHPA. The bridge was completed and accepted by Curran Township on August 28, 1884. Come and help celebrate its birthday! For directions call 483-2376
-----------------
Sangamon County Historical Society
2018, Bridge is still out. Damaged, road closed. Bridge road boards are buckling, audibly creeking under foot. Wide, visible gaps between bridge road boards to creek below.
Over the last couple of years, no trespassing signs and chained gates have been put up within a couple yards from the bridge. I went through one side last year to check the status of this bridge and one part was pushed up like their was something pushing on the bottom of it. I need to go through my pictures again but when I find pictures of it, I will post them asap.
Some pics from Summer 2011 (not mine). I hate to think what it's like it's now.
http://advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16319754&postcount...
Shame, as this was one of my favorite spots that time forgot. Now it really will be forgotten.
This bridge has bee closed since the summer of 2010.
As a kid I used to fish and swim at this location.
I'm not sure what the future of the bridge is. The Sangamon County Highway department is broke. It is just much eaiser to close the road and not repair it.
I've gone out of my way a number of times just to go over this bridge; the last time with my mother, who was terrified! I'm curious to know when it was built. It feels solid (not like a "rickety old bridge", but I looked up the rating on the state's website - I see them here too - and it's apparently one of the worst in the state.
I've gone out of my way a number of times just to go over this bridge; the last time with my mother, who was terrified! I'm curious to know when it was built. It feels solid (not like a "rickety old bridge", but I looked up the rating on the state's website - I see them here too - and it's apparently one of the worst in the state.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/il/sangamon/84310818577/
Ricardo: Did you approach this bridge from the north or the south? Which is the best way to visit this bridge and not anger local landowners?