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Kinderhook Creek Bridge

Columbia County, New York

Photos 

Photo taken by Doug Kerr in December 2005

Enlarge

BH Photo #174091

Map 

Description 

The Berlin Iron Bridge Company is usually associated its patented lenticular truss, which accounted for the majority of their bridge construction. Although less common, they also made examples of other common truss types, of which only a handful survive today. This bridge, while historically significant just as a production of this prolific 19th century bridge fabricator, is even more unique as this example is a Pennsylvania through truss. This example shows the changing times for the Berlin Iron Bridge Company as the main truss material was steel (the switch from wrought iron to steel was made about 1892), but still retains the pin-connected construction style that was used until 1900.

The bridge is similar to other remaining Berlin Iron Bridge Company productions. Standard details that are seen on several other surviving examples (portal decorations, ornate builders plaque, decorative railings) are all present on this bridge, giving it a dignified look.

This Bridge is still servicing traffic, but was modified with a load bearing arch in a 1993 rehabilitation. The arch was done somewhat more tastefully then other similar projects, as its works in conjunction with the truss and existing floorsystem (instead of bypassing these). While it does alter the profile of the bridge, and thus detract somewhat from its historic integrity, it has allowed it to remain in service.

Facts 

Overview
Pin-connected Pennsylvania through truss bridge with arch over Kinderhook Creek on CR 25A in Stuyvesant Falls
Location
Stuyvesant Falls, Columbia County, New York
Status
Open to traffic
History
Built 1899 by Berlin Iron Bridge Co.; rehabilitated 1939 & 1993
Builder
- Berlin Iron Bridge Co. of East Berlin, Connecticut
Design
Pin connected Pennsylvania through truss with Camelback profile, reinforced by steel arches
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 201.8 ft.
Total length: 206.7 ft.
Deck width: 15.1 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 17.4 ft.
Recognition
Posted to the National Register of Historic Places
Also called
Stuyvesant Falls Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude
+42.35722, -73.73333   (decimal degrees)
42°21'26" N, 73°43'60" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
18/604314/4690216 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Stottville
Inventory numbers
NY 3342250 (New York State bridge identification number)
BH 25890 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection report (as of December 2018)
Overall condition: Poor
Superstructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 47 (out of 100)
View more at BridgeReports.com

Categories 

12-panel truss (141)
19th Century (9,637)
Berlin Iron Bridge Co. (203)
Built 1899 (446)
Built during 1890s (3,390)
Columbia County, New York (59)
Cresting (136)
Finials (233)
Lattice Railing (668)
NR-listed (3,027)
New York (5,242)
One-lane traffic (8,123)
 Open (41,456)
Owned by county (22,007)
Painted gray (9)
Pennsylvania truss (610)
Pin-connected (5,429)
Reinforced arches (10)
Span length 175-250 feet (2,125)
Stuyvesant Falls, New York (1)
Through truss (19,042)
Total length 175-250 feet (4,697)
Truss (38,331)

Update Log 

  • September 24, 2022: New photo from Paul Plassman
  • March 12, 2021: New photos from Josh Schmid
  • March 8, 2021: New photos from Patrick Gurwell
  • July 6, 2020: New photos from Patrick Gurwell
  • May 5, 2014: New photos from Michael Quiet
  • May 3, 2014: New photos from Michael Quiet
  • April 15, 2014: Updated by Michael Quiet: Added category "Pin-connected"
  • August 25, 2010: New photos from Doug Kerr

Sources 

  • Doug Kerr
  • Historicbridges.org - by Nathan Holth
  • Michael Quiet - mquiet [at] gmail [dot] com
  • Patrick Gurwell - pgurwell [at] gmail [dot] com
  • Josh Schmid
  • Paul Plassman

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