Matt Lohry

Boy, finding an intact truss bridge anywhere in demo-happy Wisconsin is a chore, but this one is even close enough to me where it won't bust the bank to put gas in the car to go visit it! I'm planning a visit tomorrow; I'll post pics.

According to the article, the woman who hit the bridge did it on purpose...wonder what the motive was? Maybe she's a hit-woman hired by IowaDOT...

Bridgehunter.com is probably not the best place to try out your scams...

Another easy way to identify the bottom chord is to look where the diagonal members meet the verticals--they always meet at the top and bottom chords and never anywhere else, except in cases of subdivided panels (Pennsylvania, Baltimore, or subdivided Warren).

I've noticed that those who turn these discussions into politically biased bash sessions also don't have the jewels to put their names with their air-headed comments! As I mentioned before, I AM Republican, but that certainly doesn't mean that I support Chinese steel, and that certainly doesn't make me anti-American! Obama is about as anti-American as they get--last time I checked, he was a DEMOCRAT! See? Doesn't make sense at all, does it?? This has absolutely ZERO to do with politics, and everything to do with the interests of America! Get a brain, and use it before posting!

Inaccurate stereotype--I'm a heartless Republican, and I hate the new bridge. This has nothing to do with partisan politics, and everything to do with common sense. Anyone with half a functioning brain cell can see right off the bat that this project is as poorly planned out and executed as it could possibly be, with the best interests of America not even considered.

Sorry, but I sharply disagree on all of Anon's points--not to be critical, but to simply point out that this could have been executed far better than it is with this project...first, as Nathan pointed out, one side of one deck section came loose--pretty darn good for an earthquake that did substantial damage to most newer structures! Two large pins (or bolts) sheared off; that's it. No structural damage to the superstructure at all. I predict that this will be a huge issue with the cable support bolts on the new slab, since new bolts have already broken on it, and it's not even open yet. They're quick to blame US bolts, I've noticed, BTW...New bridges are probably mostly bad architecture, but the old bridges that we on this site favor are straight-up civil engineering--every member not only looks good, but serves a critical structural purpose. New bridges cannot make that claim. As for the steel comment, if the US couldn't produce the steel for one lousy bridge project, then we'd be in serious trouble...issue is, we couldnt match China's low prices--and refused to match their ultra-low quality. If Caltran want to pay cruddy steel prices, then they'll get cruddy China steel. I see what is constantly happening to China's new bridges in their own country--collapse after collapse; shoddy workmanship and design, and shoddy material. Sorry, a "Made in China" MOB is something that I will never understand and refuse to support. Ok, I'm done.

It is nice to see it preserved and put to good re-use...however, I'm not a fan of Newell posts at the ends; these are large and overwhelm the actual structure, IMHO...

Looks like the entire upper chord is composed of Phoenix columns...interesting!

Just curious...how did you crap your pants if you were naked? :)

This bridge has a street view, and it's easy to distinguish its double-intersection Warren configuration. Most of New York's Erie Canal crossings were of this type. A graceful structure indeed!

At least the bridge still exists, even if someone that may never use it has it at the moment...there is a chance he may do something with it...if he hadn't "conned" the old bridge out of the county, they would have just sentenced it straight to the dumpster.

EPIC FAIL. A flat slab with Armco railings--could the replacement be any uglier??

As repetitive as Anon's posts are, he has a very valid point--Andy Peters seems to have the same problem that Sheldon Weins did when he first started posting--Sheldon, however, has mended his ways and has become a very worthy contributor. Perhaps Andy will too, but what he's posted so far certainly has no place on this website, and they could and should be deleted. Andy, historic and/or noteworthy is the name of the game here! Plain, ugly, everyday bridges do not belong! Sorry!

Chris,

The technology associated with this bridge and its design was not available until around 1900, so I think that the build date shown is correct. This bridge is most likely a replacement for the bridge that was built in 1859. This is definitely a post-1900 truss design.