Rating:
5 votes

Salt Creek Bowstring Bridge

Cloud County, Kansas

Photos 

Overview

Photo taken by Robert L Elder

BH Photo #103053

Map 

Facts 

Overview
Lost Bowstring pony truss bridge over Salt Creek on 212th Street, southeast of Hollis
Location
Cloud County, Kansas
Status
Removed in 2010 after collapsing in a flood
History
Collapsed in 2010
Builder
- Wrought Iron Bridge Co. of Canton, Ohio
Design
Bowstring pony truss
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 80.0 ft.
Total length: 81.0 ft.
Deck width: 15.1 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude
+39.59370, -97.53703   (decimal degrees)
39°35'37" N, 97°32'13" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
14/625617/4383685 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Rice
Inventory numbers
KS 000150799003561 (Kansas local bridge number on the National Bridge Inventory)
BH 17604 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection (as of 11/2008)
Deck condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Serious (3 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Appraisal: Structurally deficient
Sufficiency rating: 25.0 (out of 100)
Average daily traffic (as of 2008)
10

Categories 

Bowstring pony truss (196)
Bowstring truss (380)
Cloud County, Kansas (22)
Destroyed by flood (331)
Kansas (2,693)
Lost (18,649)
Lost 2010 (374)
Lost during 2010s (1,985)
One-lane traffic (7,421)
 Owned by county (18,846)
Pony truss (15,046)
Span length 75-100 feet (5,786)
Structurally deficient (18,407)
Total length 75-100 feet (5,923)
Truss (29,433)
Wooden deck (5,863)
Wrought Iron (367)
Wrought Iron Bridge Co. (285)

Update Log 

  • April 24, 2017: Updated by Kevin Skow: Updated status based on fourm and satellite imagery. Bridge no longer exists at this location, likely was scrapped.
  • November 28, 2010: New photo from Joe Underwood
  • November 8, 2010: Updated by Robert Elder: Edited Status, and Status description to indicate that the bridge was damaged by flooding.
  • March 16, 2010: Updated by Robert Elder: Adjusted GPS Coordinates
  • July 10, 2009: Updated by Robert Elder: Updated Categories.
  • August 4, 2008: New photos from Robert Elder
  • October 2, 2006: Posted photos from Robert L Elder

Sources 

  • Robert Elder - robertelder1 [at] gmail [dot] com
  • Joe Underwood
  • Kevin Skow - weatherbum [at] hotmail [dot] com
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Comments 

Salt Creek Bowstring Bridge
Posted July 27, 2010, by Robert Elder (robertelder1 [at] gmail [dot] com)

I have also sent an update to my correspondents concerning the status of this bridge. I am cautiously optimistic that it could be salvageable.

Salt Creek Bowstring Bridge
Posted July 14, 2010, by Matthew Lohry

At least this happened where the historic bridge may have more than a ghost of a chance at preservation. If this bridge were in Pennsylvania or Ohio, it could most likely be written off as a hopeless loss with no governmental support.

Salt Creek Bowstring Bridge
Posted July 13, 2010, by Anthony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

I sent them an e-mail as well. Hopefully, if enough of us respond, it will help convey the importance of this wonderful span to the elected officials.

Salt Creek Bowstring Bridge
Posted July 13, 2010, by Robert Elder (robertelder1 [at] gmail [dot] com)

Nathan:

I strongly agree that we must do more than just photograph bridges. I have been in contact with other officials, and have been advocating for the preservation of several bridges as well. I appreciate the fact that you sent a letter to the Cloud County commisioners. Cloud County has been one of the best counties in Kansas for HB preservation, so hopefully your letter will be well-received.

Salt Creek Bowstring Bridge
Posted July 13, 2010, by Nathan Holth (form3 [at] historicbridges [dot] org)

I have sent an email to the Cloud County Commissioners explaining the importance of the bridge as well as the feasibility of carefully removing and storing this collapsed bridge for future preservation. I explained that even the independent parts of the bridge such as the iron column top chord are significant enough in their own right that even if they entire bridge could not be restored, that these parts could hold their own in a museum exhibit.

I encourage anyone here at BridgeHunter who cares about historic bridges to send an email to Cloud County encouraging them to not scrap this bridge out. Caring about historic bridges means more than just photographing bridges. We must act to save these bridges for future generations. An email does not take long to send. Here is a link to the commissioners: http://www.cloudcountyks.org/Commissioners/tabid/3770/Defaul...

If you need help understanding what makes bowstring truss bridges significant, please view my page here: http://www.historicbridges.org/iowa/mcdowell/index.php and don't forget to scroll to the end of the narrative for several additional resources.

Salt Creek Bowstring Bridge
Posted July 13, 2010, by Robert Elder (robertelder1 [at] gmail [dot] com)

This is certainly unfortunate. Cloud County has has several bridges on the NRHP and there appears to be a strong interest in historic bridges in the area. The small size of this bridge would allow it to be transported to a park with relative ease.

I hope that other bridges in the area were not destroyed by this flood.

Salt Creek Bowstring Bridge
Posted July 12, 2010, by Anthony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

Hopefully the arches can be pulled out of the creek and stored. There are a few people out there that can do wonders with a damaged span like this. It could see life again in a park someday.

Salt Creek Bowstring Bridge
Posted July 12, 2010, by Steve Reedy (bridgehunter [at] tran-soft [dot] com)

Sorry Friends,

Flood waters have claimed a local favorite.