Julie Bowers

We've been asked to come and look at this bridge by a home owner nearby. The Township says it needs to be removed so that emergency vehicles, like a fire tanker can cross. There seem to be many alternative routes but the township, like so many others, have drank the coolaid and want it to be gone. It feeds rural area and not many people. Wonder how those tankers crossed before.

Nontheless, we will go shed some light and make some noise. What I do best, I guess, even when it goes nowhere someone has to stand up for these bridges. Nels will be at the end of the photographs making some assessments as well. We have experts and if the substructure is good, then why?

Tell me why? Have a great day folks. Going to go see the Orioles play the Red Sox. Should be a good old day at the ball field. Never been to Camden Yards before.

Whenever I am in doubt I consult with the experts, Robert Elder being one of them. This site is meant to help with the historic bridge movement, and veering from that and applauding folks who make replicas or put up faux stone doesn't advance that mission.

There are still plenty of people who can restore, rehabilitate, reinvent truss bridges that the faux is not necessary.

so let that argument continue, an impasse because someone is louder or posts more is not a reason to stop. I run into these attitudes elsewhere then, and they point to bridgehunter for help saving their bridges.

So please let's get back to the historic, the notable if you will of bridges that can have their futures back.

The following speaks for itself.

"Dear Julie,

I have been delegated to inform you that Larry Wilson has rescinded his support for your grant application. He became very concerned about the language requiring the county to agree to maintain the bridge for 20 years. With this year's floods, he is afraid that this could cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars. I replied that Julie's group has raised substantial money and has many people strongly supporting it and would not leave the county with such a burden. He was not convinced and so a resolution was passed to remove the county's support. If the grant comes through, the county will not accept it. I voted against but was out voted 2 to 1. Larry delegated me to inform you of these proceedings. I do so sadly. - Lamoyne Gaard

NSRGA doesn't understand how this came out of the blue without proper notice from Poweshiek County. How could they resolve and vote on an issue without our presence? Was it an agenda item? We believe that this is a knee jerk reaction to the crash of an oversize vehicle on the bridge in Washington last week, the county conservation board that didn't want us to do anything with that old bridge at Millgrove Access, an engineer that admits to not understanding truss bridges and the flooding.

With the recent flooding NSRGA was looking forward to getting into the area to survey the high waters and to assess the numbers with our engineer. Our numbers for reset had raised the bridge two feet, so while the flooding was concerning to us we could wait until the waters had receded and there seemed to be greater needs to the citizens than our project right now. Certainly no definite evaluation could be made while it was still so wet.

This TeAP (Transportation Enhancement Alternative Program) Grant for federal dollars was not a sure thing, but preliminary talks with the National Trust for Historic Preservation Insurance Company had begun because we were researching the insurance issue. NTHP Insurance Co began in 2004 and insures other historic projects with these kind of grant requirements, like 20 years of maintenance, were in progress. June 11 is the date the TeAP grantees will be announced. The money is competitive with only a million dollars available on a statewide base. Our regional planning area 6 declined to give out any opportunities for grants this year and provided NSRGA with their report just yesterday which defined their reasons.

NSRGA's primary donor, Marilyn Taylor Jordan of the McFarlin Family Foundation was contacted about this new roadblock immediately. She wrote from Shanghai: "Who is Larry Wilson? Can the board members and supporters write to him? I'm also concerned about the 20-year obligation, but the point is to secure the grant, then determine what is required to obtain the required coverage for the liability."

This project cost the county nothing to date.

Any questions can be directed to Julie Bowers, Executive Director of the NSRGA, at 641.260.1262.

I wish one of these television or blogger folks would call some of us....

expert in infrastructure? from where? this is an important discussion but it is not limited to fracture critical, functionally obsolete words used to inflame and bolster an argument with no regard to meaning.

harrumphm

thank you. it looks like original wrought iron porch railing.

are they any pictures of those iron pickets?

Railing on bowstrings

Intriques me

I also have to do something

Wire cable was not good

Perhaps Wooden railing is Best

It was good enough in the 40s

Tough question but one coming up for me because I know that a bridge that has had nothing for 130 years will certainly be forced to have some kind of railing system.

Any ideas?

One person can make a difference, and in this case, that person retired from TxDOT last year. It's too bad because while TxDOT did specify rivets in the last three projects, the next "REHABILITATION" is just that. A rehab of a very historic bridge that is next to a park and a restaurant and would get a lot of visitors. The TxDOT bridge division trio that I spoke to says that they haven't given up on the in-kind restorations, but weren't comfortable with that on this bridge. And, they have to come up with the procedures for field rivets and inspection procedures for field rivets, in order be "comfortable". That was their word.

I kept trying to get them to change the bid by an addendum or put the bridge letting back, but no. Rather than create an addendum to the bid which lets tomorrow allowing field rivets to be used if we create those procedures, like a Site Specific Erection Plan, they have chosen to make it clear that all of the riveted lattice, 70% of it, should be replaced with high tension bolts, and four years ago they didn't even make the fake rivet headed bolts. My engineer professor friend said that the high tension bolts were "stronger", but the rivets ARE STRONG ENOUGH. Not to mention that the bolts won't work on the inclined end posts repairs. The division engineer said they were going to look into that. I suggested putting the job letting back but, no. I guess it is a press release and letters to those powers that be that Workin' Bridges, for one, thinks they have made a mistake that should and could be corrected.

Now we have been doing rivets a long time, and bridge and building rivets for 150 plus years. Rivets weren't replaced because they weren't good enough, according to Nels, but because the bottom line said one guy can turn a bolt where it took a gang to do the high quality work.

Sounding rivets, an ASHTO Standard to inspect for problems has been part of the specifications for inspections according to the 2000 edition. Other procedures for process and procedure for the hot rivet process must be available somewhere, and should not need to be created again.

My question, if they are sure the previous three bridges are fine, but want to now limit the risk of a "black eye" (again, their words) then why not use the Worley Bridge in Milam County as the text book case for finalizing those standards and procedures? It is the perfect bridge for that.

Two steps forward, 10 back. Why does that happen with engineers, and states, and opinions rather than facts? Case by case, person by person, we will prevail at this battle of design engineers not interested in the knowledge that is available from other sources, including fabricators, metal smiths, professors, engineers and other passionate people about our history.

I won't love going to see this bridge with bolted lacing on the verticals. And I am glad that I have the power to speak about these issues and am not tied to a desk, not too much risk sitting there.

Visited here and used this road many times while visiting my daughter. YOu can't get on the bridge, but they saved it and it has a great plaque explaining.

The Corten Steel Arch bridge is nice in that it mirrors the size, but I did see signs of the rust dripping on every little thing.

the postcard is very cool. Thanks for posting that.

Hey Ya'll,

Motorcycle Raffle Drawing April 1. $10 per. Send a check, get 6 for $50. Paypal at skunkriverbridge.org or PO Box 332, Grinnell, IA 50112. Delivery not included but we will work hard to help figure that out.

or

Pick it up now

or get it at the 5th Annual Historic Bridge Conference this summer.

Great way to go bridgehunting.

Seriously, we have finished the project engineering, need some working drawings and we need to start fabrication. Every penny helps. Prefer the documentary, it's fun and your family will start to understand why you do what you do.

Thanks again for your support.

Julie

A conference call is scheduled for today between many state, federal, local jurisdictions regarding the future of this bridge. I get to participate in the role of funding opportunities, restoration ideas. It looks in pretty good shape from the pictures.

In the interest of the future of historic bridges we are starting another division under NSRGA dedicated to bowstrings. Nathan, you know we will work with all styles, but bowstrings are a first love. Kings or WBCos. I think if we can narrow it down, much like "Covered" we may be able to drive awareness and finances for saving this style, which will certainly then go towards the Warrens, Pratts, Parkers, Baltimores, Ponies that around here we all love. This focus on bowstrings will allow me to work with Sunny Brae on the Gilliece WBCO and continue the in-kind fabrications required for our McIntyre by King.

But it might be easier to take the national market by storm using the longest bowstring in the U.S. as the draw. Any ideas welcome.

Thanks Robert. My helper picked up the mail as well, thank you again.

Help me classify this bridge. 4-panel pin connected pratt. I think it was connected to Port Sullivan in the history of Roberston Couty. Gotta be old, the way the sway bracing is tied to the top chord and the lattice everywhere.

I have the name of the property owner to call about access down the old road bed on the other side.

I could see the span from a distance. I can't really see much in the satellite view. What do you think bridgehunters. It was in service in the 70s for sure and then the road was changed and it was abandoned according to Mr. Burnett of the Chamber who kindly took me bridgehunting.

They look at the bridge restorations as a great thing for the county. As the commissioner said, "when they are gone, they are gone!" gotta get that on video.

and the research I ran into Shive-Hatterly is the offshoot of Boynton and Warriner. they are continuing a tradition or engineering. I emailed to ask if they had any old plans of the Cascade Bridge hanging about.... you never know. Have the proposal written .1a of preservation in kind of this bridge, but it has been hacked apart. can it be saved? only the best craftsmen and engineers know. I have a gut feeling but ....... more will be revealed for the Cascade bridge. At least we give her a chance for restoration.