Melan Bridge

Photos

Melan Arch Bridge

Topeka, Kansas

c1914 Postcard Image Provided by David Shedlock

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BH Photo #430266

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Description

The Bridge opened on January 12, 1898 with 5 main spans replacing a Steel Truss Bridge next to it. The approach grade was destroyed in the 1903 flood and was replaced by 4 more spans bringing the span total to 9. 2 spans of the bridge collapsed during evening Rush Hour on July 2, 1965 at 5:30 PM taking at least 1 life and 2 cars with it. The collapse is believed to be caused by scour damage from the construction of the replacement bridge in progress when the collapse occurred.

The replacement bridge opened in 1967.

Facts

Overview: Lost Closed-spandrel arch bridge over Kansas River on Kansas Avenue
Location: Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas
Status: Lost, Destroyed by Partial Collapse July 2, 1965, Replaced by a new bridge 1967
History: Opened January 12, 1898 with 5 Main Spans, 4 more outer spans built 1903 after flooding washed out approaches, collapsed 1965 when replacement span was being built, replacement bridge opened 1967 slightly downstream
Design: Closed-spandrel arch bridge of 8 Spans with 5 Main Spans.
Dimensions: Length of largest span: 125.0 ft.
Deck width: 40.0 ft.
Also called: Melan Arch Bridge
Kansas Avenue Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude: +39.06244, -95.66889 (decimal degrees)
39°03'45" N, 95°40'08" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 15/269081/4327096 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:: Topeka
Land survey: T. 11 S., R. 16 E., Sec. 29
Inventory number: BH 55524 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

October 8, 2019: New photo from Melissa Brand-Welch
July 9, 2018: New photo from David Shedlock
February 12, 2013: Updated by Chris Knight: yea I wonder if it was 8 or 9 further research form a site shows 9 spans.

Related Bridges

Kansas Avenue Bowstring (Predecessor) - The Old Iron Arch Truss Bridge It Replaced

Sources

19th-century Kansas Comes of Age - When completed in 1896, Topeka's 540-foot-long Melan arch bridge-hailed as a marvel of construction-was the nation's largest concrete bridge.
Kansas Memory Aerial views of Topeka and Shawnee County, Kansas - 21 - Shows aerial picture of the melan bridge in 1957. The aerial image shows 9 spans.
David Shedlock
Melissa Brand-Welch - melissabrandwelch [at] msn [dot] com
Engineering News-record - Historical Article