Amelia Earhart Bridge
Photos
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Photo taken by Robert Elder |
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Photo taken by Robert Elder |
Facts
- Overview
- Through truss bridge over the Missouri River on US 59 at Atchison
- Status
- Open to traffic
- Future prospects
- Scheduled to be replaced by a new tied arch bridge
- History
- Built 1937-38; rehabilitated 1975
- Builders
- - Sverdrup and Parcel
- Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Design
- Cantilevered Warren through truss
- Dimensions
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Length of largest span: 474.0 ft.
Total length: 2,677.4 ft.
Deck width: 23.9 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 15.1 ft.
- Recognition
- Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +39.55959, -95.11294 (decimal degrees)
39°33'35" N, 95°06'47" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 15/318478/4381010 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Atchison East
- Inventory numbers
- MoDOT K-697R (Missouri Dept. of Transportation bridge number)
BH 17349 (Bridgehunter.com ID) - Inspection (as of 07/2008)
- Deck condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Appraisal: Structurally deficient
Sufficiency rating: 23.4 (out of 100) - Average daily traffic (as of 2008)
- 8,850
Update Log
- May 14, 2010: New Street View added by Robert Elder
- March 9, 2010: Updated by Robert Elder: Added Street View link for this doomed bridge.
- January 20, 2010: Updated by Robert Elder: Adjusted GPS Coordinates.
- November 2, 2009: Updated by Robert Elder: Edited Future Prospects
Sources
- Robert Elder - robertelder1 [at] gmail [dot] com
- Wikipedia
- Missouri Historic Bridge Inventory
Comments
Here we go again. Another masterpiece being torn down to put up another horrid monster. I absolutely loved the old Cape Girardeau (Mo.) Bridge. Yes I know it needed work. Instead of restoring it,they put up another of the suspension bridges. You know what. We all need to band together to stop the destruction of these beautiful bridges. They need to be restored. My 2c anyhow.
Span=spans. Pardon the typo.
The main span of the Amelia Earhart Bridge and the Miami bridges do appear to be nearly identical. Both were built by Sverdrup and Parcel.
Although the new bridge will not have the historic value of the old cantilever span, at least it will have some aesthetic appeal.
I looked at the photos of the new Glasgow Bridge in Missouri. I understand that the main idea is to have a safe modern bridge, and I also understand the concept of form following function. That being said, that new Glasgow Bridge has to be the most hideously ugly bridge I have ever seen! May KDOT and MODOT deliver us from having to look at something like that when we drive through Atchison.
I looked at pics of the Amelia Earhart bridge online and it resembles the "Miami Bridge" which is being removed in favor of the ugly UCEB. I really like the idea of a steel arch going up at the Amelia Earhart site. The idea of slapping stringer beams on old truss piers doesn't cut it well to me. Cheers! for the Amelia Earhart bridge, and double thumbs down for the Miami crossing.
This bridge is to be replaced by a new tied arch steel bridge. The tied arch will span the main channel.
Another site will allow viewers to observe the construction process. http://www.earthcam.com/clients/kansasDOT/ As you can see, construction of the new bridge is just beginning.
Ground has been broken for the new bridge.
http://www.cjonline.com/news/state/2009-07-03/ground_broken_to_replace_bridge
Here are some pictures i have of the bridge. Hope to go back up there and snap a few better ones before it is replaced or they put up a second bridge. I have been hearing both.
hey my name is jprdan malm and i would like to leave a comment on this because i dont want them to replace the bridge!!! i like the bridge because it shows people that atchison really does have some history to it. i remeber my dad always talking about it. he always talked about how it made atchison look good for change. so all i am saying is please dont tear down the bridge