Recent Kansas Comments
Post a comment Contact webmasterI drove over the new bridge last month. Construction crews had removed the roadbed leading to the old bridge. I doubt this one is going to stand much longer.
Yes, this is a modern bridge, but it is a replica of a historic bridge that once spanned Long Creek in the Melvern Vicinity. A photograph can be viewed here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bkern1989/7155338182/in/photostream/
James: If you feel that this bridge does not belong, than no worries. I added it because I don't mind good replicas on here.
While not directly related to bridges, tomorrow (May 15th) marks the Sesquicentennial of the Battle of Rebel Creek. This small, and largely forgotten, Civil War battle was fought roughly three miles north of this bridge. The site is not accessible to the public.
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/montgome/chron3.htm
This bridge was built only 8 years later.
We now have two very similar brick arch bridges within a few miles of each other on the ATSF Railroad.
There were railroads in eastern Kansas prior to the Civil War. Naturally, a large number of bridges at that time would have been built of wood.
Brick arches were used during the Civil War era, so I would be interested to find out whether or not these two bridges could date from that period.
Another research project to add to my list...
Great pictures Daniel. This group of bridges have stood for a long time abandoned and undocumented. It's nice to see the information coming together on this site.
Very nice to see pictures. Thanks, Daniel!
pictures taken 5/11/2013
Major hat tip to Tedd Liggett for sending me a picture and the location of this one.
http://teddliggett.smugmug.com/
It shows up in Bing bird's eye:
pictures taken 5/11/2013
Jayhawk:
Thanks for the tip. That is some interesting imagery. It does look like the bridge is partially buried in mud.
I guess that is one way to preserve a bridge. Too bad we don't have Anonymous the Pompeiian. He could provide good information about buried structures (although this is in mud, not a pyroclastic flow).
New Google imagery confirms that this thing was out of the water and and dry last summer. It looks like it's partially sunken in mud.
We've had a lot of rain in central Kansas this month so it could be submerged again.
A little reading on a nearby bridge gives the date, 1886, and explains the names.
My guess would be that it was built in the late 1800s. All I know is that CKW built the route, and that the CKW was bought by the ATSF around 1901.
Any idea how long ago the RR was built? The 1903 KS RR map also shows AT&SF but I don't know anything about when this line was built or by whom. I don't have much access to RR history, so your info source would be interesting to look at. I'm always curious what else might be out there undiscovered.
The bridge would have been built by the Chicago, Kansas and Western Railroad. http://bridgehunter.com/ks/chautauqua/ckw-cedar-creek/
The RR was shown as the AT&SF on the 1936 county highway map.
Well, that is two of us in agreement, so I have edited the page accordingly.
Looks like a rigid frame bridge to me.
My fellow bridgehunters: I have just added this bridge, which the NBI considers to be a slab. To me, it looks more like a rigid frame concrete bridge.
What do you folks think. All we have is Streetview so far.
Very nice to see pictures of this forgotten bridge.
here are some pictures I took of this bridge on 4/25/2013
Okay I guess they have demolished a couple of pony trusses since then.
Nathan, that is a good point. We have seen plenty of stone abutments give way recently. I am just glad to see that this one got preserved.
I have been bridgehunting in Geary County since the mid 1990s. The only trusses that have been demolished since that time (that I know of) were on state or federal highways. To the best of my knowledge, Geary County has not demolished a truss bridge in roughly 20 years. That is pretty remarkable if you ask me!
After this spring, I couldn't be happier to see the abutments replaced. Stone abutments are pretty, but far to many sturdy trusses are brought down by faulty stone abutments. One solution is to reconstruct abutments in concrete and reuse old stones as decorative facing.
I visited this bridge in April of 2013. It is another historic bridge preservation success story in Geary County.
As you can see from my photographs, this bridge has been rehabilitated and re-opened to traffic. The stone abutments have been replaced, but the truss remains.
In a perfectly ideal world, we would still have stone abutments to look at, but Geary County needs to be commended for preserving this bridge. This county has also done a good job preserving and maintaining other historic bridges under its jurisdiction.
A new steel culvert has been installed to the east of this stone culvert. The creek has been diverted to flow through the new culvert. Water will still flow through the old culvert during wet weather. Photographs to come.
Looks like recent inspections have forced KDOT to close the bridge. I have updated the description to reflect that. Story here: http://www.jeffcountynews.com/2013/04/kdot-forces-county-to-shut-down-two-bridges/
Yeah, I thought those old stone abutments were really interesting when I poked around there. I think they were built for the Leavenworth, Topeka, & Southwestern Railroad, which was for a time jointly operated by the AT&SF and UP, and later publicly owned! The line was probably dismantled around 1933.
The USGS Topographical maps for the Topeka and Oskaloosa regions (30x30, 1894 and subsequent) show the line labeled as the Santa Fe. See also "The People's Railroad" at http://www.kshs.org/publicat/history/2001spring_quastler.pdf
The City of Lenora has a 1906 Truss Leg Bedstead Bridge (OS125) to give away. Located in Larrick Park, the steel bridge is 64 ft long and 17 ft wide, is in fair condition but currently has no deck. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and its relocation to Larrick Park had been approved by the National Park Service. Anyone interested in the bridge would be responsible for all work and expense to relocate the bridge, as well as coordination with the Kansas Historical Society. Serious inquiries may be made to the City of Lenora, 125 E Washington, Lenora, KS 67645, or call 785-567-4860, or email lenoraco@ruraltel.net.
This bridge is being offered by the city of Lenora.
This bridge was just closed to traffic over the weekend.
Some photos taken April 7th, 2013. The plaques confirm that the bridge was built in 1917. The builder was Allen & Fulton of Topeka.
"The American Contractor" of November 11, 1916 has a note that the contract was let to Allen & Fulton for $4,753. (It's amazing what Google has digitized.) Link: http://goo.gl/dDyy1
Closed now. the new one is not near done, seems work on it ceased.
For Immediate Release - March 29, 2013
Dodge City’s 2nd Avenue Historic Steel Bridge
Fate To Be Determined At Meeting in April
Julie Bowers, Executive Director of The N. Skunk River Greenbelt Association and consultant for Workin’ Bridges of Grinnell, Iowa, is seeking additional information about the historic old steel bridge that was built across the Arkansas River in Dodge City, Kansas in 1906. Two sections of the original bridge remain standing on the Mulberry Creek, southwest of Ford, Kansas, about twenty miles from its original location in the historic cow town of Dodge City. “We are looking for images or information about where the other trusses from the bridge ended up,” stated Bowers. “They could be included in the video that we are producing for the meeting.”
The two sections of the original 2nd Avenue truss bridge placed over Mulberry Creek on Valley Road, southwest of Ford, were opened in 1959. An inspection in May of 2012 revealed a broken pin and the bridge was closed by Kansas Department of Transportation.
On closer examination the pin turned out to be a replacement part, a hole in the center and a key way channel down the length point toward a vehicle’s axle being the source for the replacement part. Pretty clever for the day and it lasted nearly 60 years. This part can be replaced with a new pin, the work was estimated by BACH Steel in November 2012.
Wayne Keller’s quest to work with this bridge began three years ago when the Ford County Commissioners approached him with their desire to abandon the bridge and close the road across the Mulberry Creek. He agreed, if the Commissioners would provide access to his home from 123 Road. Some work was done on the minimum maintenance road but the commission decided that would be too expensive and stopped those efforts. After the broken pin was discovered, the Ford County Commission decided to replace the bridge with a culvert rather than improve 123 Road. It was at that time that Mr. Keller enlisted the help of Workin’ Bridges, a consulting firm for historic bridge restoration, who in turn did a site inspection and provided an estimate for pin repair.
On Monday, October 15, 2012, the Ford County Engineer submitted the plans for the low water crossing to the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE), prompting the Section 106 review. The Kansas State Historic Society determined that the bridge is eligible for the National Register and that replacement is considered an adverse effect in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. They are currently consulting with the Army Corps of Engineers to avoid and minimize adverse effects to the bridge and KSHS recommends that the bridge be retained and repaired.
In the meantime, Keller had appealed the county’s plans for a low water crossing given the potential for flooding in the large Mulberry Creek watershed, evidenced by high water markers attached on the abutment. He appealed the commissions ruling through a court hearing to address the culvert under K.S.A. 19-223. In February of 2013 the court refused a hearing of the issues and dismissed the action.
The meeting in El Dorado on April 10, 2013 at the Army Corp of Engineers will be the next step. Workin’ Bridges is also developing alternative options for the spans in the event the outcome dictates moving them and any input from the citizens would be welcome for concepts for alternative uses. The spans are still in great shape. Perhaps they could become a performance stage utilized in downtown Dodge City, used on a trail system, or placed in a park but grant requirements dictate different paths,” stated Bowers, “They really they could work for generations to come right where they cross the Mulberry Creek. Listing on the National Register makes them eligible for historic preservation grants. The Kansas City Bridge Company has just over 100 bridges left across the country. Their work, if maintained, can last indefinitely, preserve the quality of life and provide a reasonable crossing for most vehicles.”
Julie Bowers may be contacted at Workin’ Bridges on Facebook, P.O. Box 332, Grinnell, Iowa 50112, 641-260-1262, jbowerz1@gmail.com, or at www.skunkriverbridge.org. Workin’ Bridges is a part of The N. Skunk River Greenbelt Association, a 501(c)(3) corporation, dedicated to historic truss and greenbelt restoration.
As far as I'm concerned it does! I would only go to see it if I was showing someone the WRONG way to treat an historic bridge.
Does this count as lost then? lol
Your mutant probably crawled out of my toilet Jodi!
All kidding aside...The county engineer and anyone else involved with this ridiculous looking farce should be lined up beside it and shot! (Okay, okay...I'll settle for being relieved from their duties.)
They really put some ingenuity into that mess :-p ....err mutant bridge / drainage ditch. Reminds me of this: http://raf1210.webs.com/AnimalMutants1.jpg
Black and White photographs of what the bridge USED to look like can be seen here:
Well, that is two toilet awards for the Sunflower State. Overall, not a horrible track record, but both were deserved.
As far as I know, this is the only historic bridge in Morton County.
I hope that maybe the arches are still under the concrete somewhere, and were not removed completely.
Well, all I can say is congrats to Morton Co.! Your bridge is now the front runner for the 2013 Smith Awards for the worst example for saving a HB! How ugly is that thing!!! ;-P
I saw this picture and my stomach turned sour. I immediately had to make a run for the...
(Todd Baslee photo)
This bridge has been completely redone. The stone arches have been filled in with concrete and steel culverts. You can see a photograph here: http://ke2013.smugmug.com/Dare-To-Do-Dirt/Southwest-Kansas/Morton-County-Dirt/23181629_hWWQ2L#!i=1868230966&k=hT3v7kV&lb=1&s=A
ARMY Corp has requested a meeting with Ford County officials and their engineer, KSHS and Workin' Bridges. It was scheduled for next week but of courswe those officials had prior commitments. ACE said that they did not address the mitigation of an adverse effect. While claiming that w
the bridge was in immenent danger of collapse they didn't block it off, we had a meeting of neighbors there. The engineer sited our info on the axle as a replacement part.
W'B submitted photos, drawings and assessment/estimate for the repair/of the pin which would totally mitigate the adverse condition of SCRAPPING.
First time for me to see Section 106 in action. More will be revealed. If Wayne hadn't done his research, if Bridgehunter hadn't been there that research and support it would not have been in a process at SHPO to update the history and find it eligible for NRHP status and when the county applied for a permit it wouldn't have triggered Section 106: Wayne's appeal slowed things down enough that the county didn't get it scrapped and now can't. If they do something rash, it will affect their work with ACE for permits in the future.
Good job everybody!
the postcard is very cool. Thanks for posting that.
Sure enough, those spans are still there in the mud. A bit mangled, but still evident after more than 60 years.
Information and References about the collapse in 1951 can bee seen here: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/flood/fld51.photos.html
Also the latest Google Maps/Earth images shows the Collapsed Spans of the Bridge sitting in the water next to the replacement spans.
Good to hear Robert...As I was really surprised the bridge has survived if the water had actually gotten that high!
Just heard from Mr. Lytton. Apparently the limbs on top of the truss came from a falling tree, not from floodwater. This river still floods a lot, however. I just has not gotten over the truss.
Trees are also a hazard to trusses.
Sounds like that bridge is going up quickly. When I crossed this bridge in late 2011, no work had been done at all - except perhaps for some surveying.
If anybody wants to visit this bridge, do it now. Soon, there will only be two of them left. Only the Nebraska one is recognized as historic.
There once were several in Kansas, so perhaps they were just considered common technology.
The replacement bridge is nearly complete,it appeared they had finished the deck and are now working on the approach when I took that pic last week.
This bridge is scheduled for repair. I have heard some news about this, but now we have a detailed article.
http://www.graphic-online.com/news/local_news/article_8fc78f23-73b1-5086-bfad-5764b1263fe0.html
Reading the comments from Mr. McMahon, from the county commission, it is clear that there is a strong commitment to HB preservation in this area.
H/T: Nathan Holth http://www.historicbridges.org/
I was browsing the Antique Mall in downtown Lawrence Kansas when I saw a postcard of a bridge out of the corner of my eye. I was super excited when I saw what bridge it was a postcard of given the discussion here over the last couple months!
The postmark on the back is December 8th, 1908.
Here is a postcard of the metal truss which preceded this concrete arch. I found it in the Lawrence, KS antique mall. The date on the bottom "2-6-'08" is actually February 6th, 1908!
This bridge is a duplicate of:
I just uploaded some new photographs from Mr. Lytton. There is driftwood on top of the truss.
The Whitewater River normally looks very placid, but it can become a raging torrent without warning. This river is notorious for flooding. Following a major rainfall, it becomes dangerous and unpredictable.
Well, actually it is predictable - it floods!
Just had a look at that link that Ruth posted. WOW, those are some incredible flood pictures. Seriously, check them out.
Eric:
Thanks for the photograph. I understand that the replacement bridge is under construction. These Kansas Cantilevers are becoming and endangered species.
I hate to see this one go,it's a beauty.
Also, Butler County appears to be in the process of replacing a bridge over the Whitewater River near Augusta, but it is not this one. Don't worry if you happen to find this via a Google search. The bridge being replaced is a non-historic structure on nearby Thunder Road.
Julie:
Unfortunately I do not know of any stonemasons in the area. Glad that KSHS seems to be interested in investigating this bridge. I just wish I could be there as well.
One important factor is the fact that Butler County has a very good track record for historic bridge preservation. Like any other jurisdiction, they have demolished the occasional bridge, but overall, they have done an excellent job of balancing the needs of transportation with preservation.
As an example, the Gordon Bridge was replaced, but allowed to remain standing next to its replacement. http://bridgehunter.com/ks/butler/gordon/
I strongly suspect that there would be interest in preserving this bridge if local residents and officials were made aware of its existence.
There are no emergency funds, but KSHS can move to investigate or add it to their database. They would look into it, was also the response I got Robert.
Need a mason it appears....at low water.
HOW DOES ONE FIGURE IT OUT.
KSHS has just added this structure to their Historic Bridge database. The listing can be viewed here:
Too bad the TRUSS Award nomination deadline has passed...
Anthony:
I have notified Julie Bowers about this bridge. I also sent a message to one of my contacts at KSHS. This one has got to be saved. As I told Julie, it ranks right up there with the Long Shoals Bridge in terms of significance. We are down to six extant P.E. Lane listings on Bridgehunter.
Two of those six are in Kansas. The other bridge, which has similar but smaller portal bracing, is on the NRHP. You can see it here:
http://bridgehunter.com/ks/barton/50651505163/
As a side note, I find it interesting that this bridge has very short and very lightweight stringer approaches. I would think that pony trusses would have made better approach spans.
I'm afraid that unless something drastic is done soon to reinforce that failing pier...this bridge will soon be in the "Lost" category.
Would hate to see that happen!
Well, I guess I was wrong in my speculation about the builder. I never guessed P.E. Lane.
http://cityoflacygne.org/images/Flood_-_RR_between_Paola_Ft.Scott_2.pdf
If you look at this link, the 3rd picture shows this bridge. These pictures were taken after the flood of 2007.
I generally go with 50 years as well, but I decided to make an exception in this case.
I use a 50 year old guideline Robert. So this one isn't really that far off of being historic if you ask me.
This is not a MOB. It is a 1966 through arch bridge. While it is modern, I would consider it to have at least some architectural significance.
James:
I have been wondering about adding these bridges to the website. They are certainly modern, but they are unique. Definitely more interesting than a MOB.
Drove across the new bridge today, didn't get any photos (forgot my DSLR at home and it was like 15 degrees) and it's really nice. Only have half the lanes open right now and the West Approach span is gone a good portion of the way up so they can complete the remaining approach for the new bridge.
Yup...Bridge looks to still be extant.
I spy a floorbeam...
Google Earth has new imagery for this region. It appears that this old Bowstring just might be extant.
The WPA built a large number of stone arch bridges, and other structures in this part of Kansas. I would suspect that they might have been responsible for this one.
No idea of who built it? Maybe the CCC?
Let's hope so. If you are able to obtain access, it would be great to have pictures on here.
Nice find!
Maybe my wife will want to go looking for antiques this weekend in Paola.
Thanks to all for confirming my suspicions that this is indeed a through truss.
I have searched the KSHS website, but have not found this bridge listed there yet. KSHS has 93 historic bridge listings for this county, so it takes a while to sift though them.
If the bridge was built in the early 1900s, then the Kansas City Bridge Co. would be a potential builder as Miami County seemed to prefer them. If the bridge was built prior to ca. 1900, I won't even venture to guess without a field check.
The bridge appears to be on private property now, but I do not know if the county maintains a right of way or not. I would want to check with the landowner first.
Yea this Bridge was lost in the mid 1990s and replaced with a Viaduct type. There's also a duplicate listing here: http://bridgehunter.com/ks/wyandotte/bh36476/ of the Southern Span of it. It's one bridge replaced at 2 different times.
There is a bridge in this vicinity that seems to match the description of this listing. The bridge appears to be just inside Nebraska however, and does not appear to extend south to the Kansas state line.
In truth, I am surprised that it lasted this long. Several of these Marsh Arches on State or Federal highways were demolished in the 1980s and 1990s.
Now we are just down to the ones on County roads, at least in Kansas. Many of those County roads are old State or Federal highways.
Video of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new bridge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QaY20V35LWM
I noticed that they allowed children on bikes to be the first to cross the new bridge. Nice gesture.
Cute model. 8^D
According to the Atchison Globe, traffic is now flowing across the new bridge.
Thanks Bill, I appreciate that.
A picture of the former bridge and the road leading up to it from the south, the bridge is at the bottom of a fairly steep hill,which contains a lot of limestone with shell imprints.
So are we.
Well, shucks, glad I photographed it beforehand.
The State Historic Preservation Office wishes to provide a comment regarding this project. Our office has determined that this bridge is eligible for the National Register and that replacement is considered an adverse effect in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. We are currently consulting with the Army Corps of Engineers to avoid and minimize adverse effects to the bridge. We recommend that the bridge be retained and repaired.
from Kim Gant at KSHS today, responding to Ford County request to FDA for a permit.....
Well, this bridge is officially lost. I drove through the construction zone today. The old bridge is gone, and a new bridge is being constructed. RIP Bee Creek Bridge 1931-2012.
I drove over this bridge on 20 October 2012. I noticed that the deck is really getting rough.
I talked with the construction manager a couple weeks ago. Apparently the new bridge is ready to handle traffic, but they're waiting until the ribbon cutting. That occurs on Dec. 4, 2012, so traffic will be moved to the new bridge on Dec. 5. Better hurry and get up there if you want to drive one last time on the old one.
This bridge may get de-listed from the NRHP. Rush County wants to do extensive repairs, Russell County wants to demolish and replace it.
http://www.hdnews.net/Story/limestonebridge111412
The bridge appears to be in terrible condition according to the article. If an extensive repair would save the bridge, I would certainly support that, even if some historical integrity was compromised. It would be nice to see the bridge remain on the NRHP, however.
Here is a KDOT video of the recent implosion of the Blue Rapids bridge.
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