CR173 Bridge 1
RH Oblique from South Bank
Photo taken by K. Allen Ballard in April 4, 2015
BH Photo #321921
Flying Over the CR173 Bridge I took my drone out to see this bridge. Wished it was a bit better, but I kept losing the signal as I couldn't get as low as I would have liked. Mark W. Shannon |
April 23rd, 2017, I found that I had a 1973 Ralls/Monroe County Platt Book. CR173 appears to be non-existent from the south and from the north it dead-ends into a field. Today there is a modular home on the south end of CR173. Thus it seems this bridge has been abandoned since before 1973. Hmmm, the mystery deepens?
THANX for the drone video. Awesome work Mark.
The Missouri Historic Bridge Inventory from the early 1990s lists a total of 9 documented bridges in Monroe County built by the Decatur Bridge Co. In particular, the county signed a contract with the company on June 5, 1912 for seven steel bridges. The inventory says that this contract is "located in file drawer at Monroe County Courthouse."
Nice find!!!!
Feel free to make arguments otherwise, but in my opinion this bridge was not built by the Decatur Bridge Company. Unless a devastating flood occurred in this area historically, there is usually little to no relationship with bridge builders in terms of crossing the same river. Bridges on the same road... sometimes... but even then often you will find bridges of different vintages and builders. Moreover, this bridge lacks the design details of other Decatur Bridges on Bridgehunter. Its lattice mesh portal bracing, riveted angle(I think?) struts, etc are different, particularly from the Peterson Bridge.
Also note that this bridge (or its caissons) has moved significantly such that it isn't resting even close to center on the caissons. This bridge is therefore at risk for eventual collapse.
Thanks!