This bridge was widened from it's original design to accommodate the widening of US81/US79 that was routed through here. There is another bridge that pre-dates this one, but it was used only to cross the creek. It appears to still be there. There's quite a few of these concrete bridges sitting abandoned throughout Williamson County that once was used for what was then SH 2.
The Paddock Viaduct was the first concrete arch bridge in the United States to employ self-supporting reinforcing steel.
October 7th, 1937, in the Coleman County Chronicle newspaper, a celebration was held and they stated the bridge was reconstructed using a 200 yard span of the old Milburn Bridge which was also washed away during the flood of 1936.
Here's a link, thought it may be of interest to some of you. The pilings are left on the old Milburn bridge but that's it, and it's on private property and generally inaccessible.
I can link to it on Google Maps if there's any interest.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth732580/m1/5/z...
Here is another image from Mid July 2020. I've used the Milky Way to silhouette the Waldrip Bridge. After snapping the picture and looking at the screen of my DSLR camera, I knew I was in for a treat. That was just a magical night under the stars and a Texas Sky.
For the photographers out there: 20mm f/1.8 lens, 20.0 s. ISO 1600.
My IG account is Matt4jpeg.
Tony,
Did Vincennes have anything to do with Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Works? Because the marker text from THC reported that Hess and Skinner were agents for what they called the "Missouri Bridge Company"
https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=t...
Very distinctive plaque that matches those of the Vincennes Bridge Company. I would bet a few bucks that VBC was subcontracted to fabricate the trusses.
Located this bridge yesterday and its in really bad shape, attached are some photos
Has been replace with new concrete bridge
This just seems to be this: http://bridgehunter.com/oh/gallia/adamsville/ but with just one girder instead of two
> Also what the heck am I looking at, this bridge confuses me.
There aren't a lot of photos, but what I'm seeing is sort of a single web "solid truss". Yes, "solid" and "truss" are mutually exclusive, but maybe it will help the thought process.
There are two functions.
First is the fins and the center beam make a rigid, load bearing span across space. So those fins are above the beam, so they are under compression - which is a good use for concrete. They are doing pretty much the same thing that a pony or through truss's webs are doing, except these are solid.
The second function is the side-to-side cantilevers that support the deck and transfer the load onto the center beam. This is show by the under-the-deck photos.
Does this help? Or am I answering the wrong question?
As it is asymmetrical, with the demolition of the Nine Span Bridge should this be listed as last of it's kind? Being the last notable Asymmetric bridge in the country.
Also what the heck am I looking at, this bridge confuses me.
This bridgde has been replaced by a concrete bridge and the old bridge removed. Verified 9/11/20
This bridge has been replaced by a concrete bridge and the old one removed. Verified 9/11/20
Has a Chicago Bridge Company plaque.
Your date of construction is wrong. It was either 1917 or 1918. Now I'm at home so I'm not at the bridge right now, but the year is very clearly written in the concrete. I just don't remember if it said 1917 or 1918.
In case the Person is interested, I would like to nominate this pic for the Bridgehunter's Awards for 2020. :-) JS
Awesome! That one deserves to be in the running for Jason's bridge photo award.
The stars at night are big and bright ...
Awesome! That one deserves to be in the running for Jason's bridge photo award.
The stars at night are big and bright ...
Neat pic!
I took this image in the middle of July, 2020. God bless a Texas sky.
Very fascinating bridge. Thanks for sharing.
Henry
The bridge has been converted to a one lane bridge with alternating directional lights
This photo was taken on March 20, 2014 during the rehabilitation.
Also, UP intends to replace this bridge.
Center truss span matches this AmBridge built Harriman Lines Common Standard design.
Was this bridge really built by Phoenix, or is the referenced record referring to a previous bridge at this location?
YouTube video taken 7/23/2020
This bridge was originally constructed one-half mile south of the bridge on Willow Springs Road. It was located on the old Fayetteville to Industry road and completed in December 1915. However, it was bypassed when State Highway 159 was laid out between the two bridges in the 1920s. The bridge was moved to this site about 1929. The Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives in La Grange has several photographs showing the original approaches being constructed in 1915.
The bridge was completed on August 6, 1885, soon followed by an all-day picnic celebration. The site was chosen by a bridge engineer, causing the old Fayetteville to Industry road to be diverted to access the new bridge that was one-half mile north of the old crossing. The Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives in La Grange is hoping to find early photographs of this bridge.
Nathan,
I like it. Does anyone have pictures of the other side to see what the other plaque says and if the remains of the ponies are still there?
Regards,
Art S.
1912 according to the date punched into the portal plate.
How old is it?
I found historical photos that show this bridge used to have a very cool pony truss approach system.
Hi!
The bridge is no longer National Register eigible with the reconstruction that it has undergone... I was one of the Consulting Parties on the project.... CK
Replaced by bridge
Fully intact in 1995 aerial view. Appears to be partially dismantled in 2004 view, and completely gone by 2008.
The alignment was the Santa Fe (ATSF) Hamlin Sub, still active as late as 1989, but haven't found anything else about it.
I added this bridge because so many people on this website have been good at digging up historical photos and info about long lost bridges. This bridge was in the middle of nowhere so it might be a challenge. But it was a large bridge over a major river. I am sure it was a railroad bridge because we know the previous 1901 highway bridge in this area was closer to the existing highway bridges.
Replaced in the late 80s or early 90s.
Just a heads up about this bridge, I field visited it last year and found that the southeast caisson is sinking and/or tipping over. Its definitely lower, and one of the braces between the caissons has been ripped out of the other and the truss is showing some visible distortion. This bridge should be considered at high risk for collapse. https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=t...
I would like to find out more about the bridge next to this one that it replaced. It has a wooden roadbed. See pic.
Bridge is having currently closed due to damage to superstructure. Repairs are scheduled to be complete before Memorial day weekend.
Bridge replacement is not on the horizon. TXDOT has supposedly agreed to replace the existing historic bridge with a similar appearing truss bridge.
My family used to hang out on the beach under the Galveston end of this bridge, because the bridge made a great sunshade. If we wanted sunshine, it was just a few feet away.
Happens by the Jonesboro bridge last weekend. Curious if the route and it's importance last century.
Photos from 4/29/2020.
I will happily take you up on having done the footwork, my friend, and I just submitted a few more photos. If I may, it's "Cemetery". Thanks! 🙂
Additional photos taken on 4/29/2020
Steve, there was no previously-added bridge here, so I went and created an entry based off your information!
How do you get to this bridge? My kids live to explore and we have seen this pop up in our searches and would love to go!
Links to Some old pictures of the Rainbow Bridge
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth202596/m1/1/h...
https://therecordlive.com/2013/09/04/rainbow-bridge-nears-75...
https://live.staticflickr.com/77/203014176_66be9812f8_n.jpg
http://kogt.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rainbow-bridge-19...
The bridge is sturdy and open to traffic.
The north access to the bridge had tall grass and ticks on my trip to see it. The previously burnt bridge is slowly being consumed by nature.
I was a little annoyed to discover on Google Maps this in-storage pony truss just steps away from a bowstring truss bridge I visited in person. Although it appears to be in a fenced in wastewater treatment area, so it might be difficult to get photos of despite its proximity to the park and bridge.
As they say, "Follow the money". It would be interesting to see who makes the money from the scrap sale and how they got that right.
It was sitting on temporary K-rails for the work that they had planned to do to it. Unfortunately, they decided to cut it up rather than move it somewhere for foot traffic or sell it to a bridge restorer. It just infuriates me when history gets tossed into the trash!
Hiked this two days ago. Going strong.
Hiked this two days ago. Going strong.
You would assume incorrectly, as girder bridges can be quite old.
For example, this 1898 deck girder near me: https://bridgehunter.com/ia/story/bh49288/
The picture shows a modern replacement bridge. I would assume the 1910 bridge was replaced.
That style of postcard was common in the 1930s-late 1960s
...that postcard really dates to the 50s? (This bridge has a build year of 1950.) Seems like it'd be older than that.
I was in 4th grade we moved to Kingwood in 1980. Not unlike every teenager, we thought Kingwood was "boring, etc." but one of the things we loved doing in high school, was to gather under the bridges (US59 aka I69 have had at least 2 highway lanes in both directions running right next to this San Jacinto crossing. The bridge had section of the roadway wash away in the flood waters caused by Tropical Storm Allison. The powers that be, chose to build new motor vehicle crossing right beside the Bevel Jarrel but managed to save the old bridge, turning it into a pedestrian bridge. The new nature trail another post mentions I believe is finished, the initial 40 mile section, that is.. Love this newly discovered website! Thanks!
I’ve also seen this design in Colorado. I’m guessing it was a standard design for the railroad. It appears most were built between 1897-1902.
Looking at the stone piers with concrete caps I wonder if there was a prior bridge here.
Similar to the AT&SF stone and brick arches in Leavenworth County Kansas.
FWIW the only pictures I can find of the Atchafalaya Basin Phoenix truss are all from the same bank, and there could have been Pratts as part of the approach on the opposing bank.
Something is amiss here. The bridge shown is comprised of several Pratt trusses while the link for the previous location shows a series of Whipple spans.
This nationally significant historic bridge is now on the verge of collapse, a condition that has developed this year as the result of recent floods. Scour has undercut a concrete foundation on which the tower rests, and one of the towers has dropped enough that the deck now has a significant sag to one side. One of the supporting bents under the towers has also snapped. The county is now pursuing DEMOLITION of this NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT historic bridge on the claim that when it collapses it will destroy the modern bridge next to it. The county further claims it does not have the needed money to non-destructively dismantle the bridge and place it into storage. So, in short, unless a source of funding can be found to dismantle and put the bridge in storage or perhaps repair it in place, this bridge is otherwise in imminent doom, whether by collapse of demolition. The events that caused the recent collapse had not taken place when I visited the bridge last year for a full photo-documentation of this fascinating bridge. https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=t...
Melissa, if you would be so awesome as to grab pics from https://www.newspapers.com/image/53302177/?terms=%22New%2BBr...
Heads up Geoff, imagery is actually copyrighted. I'm trying to find a pic on Newspapers.com Melissa can grab.
Looking at the street view of the underside, I don't see that the stringers are concrete encased.
Unfortunately I've yet to find an image of the bridge, but https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/10460384/ shows that the bridge was closed due to a failing pier.
HistoricAerials has amazing aerial views of the long-lost truss.
It’s a beautiful walk through the railroad, especially during bluebonnet season. Great for taking pictures.
Work completed in 2019. Bridge is abandoned. But at least it is still there.
Just went across the new span on 3/8/2020, this bridge is open to westbound traffic, and the new bridge is open to east bound traffic.
The other bridge is this one:
While photographing the Hope Memorial Bridge I located a second Bowstring that had been moved to the same property for storage.
Many fond memories of tubing under this view. A private citizen allowed us onto his property to capture this image.
This bridge is famous as the home of the largest bat population in North America. On a warm evening just after sunset, 1.5 million bats fly out to get dinner.
My husband painted this bridge, I am posting it here for fans. Hope you like it.
I did manage to find a date for the truss from some steel bridge records I acquired. It’s a standard span, but a rather long one. This design is seen elsewhere on the Santa Fe system. I do not have any records for the trestle, although it is safe to assume it was rebuilt every 50 years or so.
I sure hope they don't remove the truss. Seems awful wasteful to erect a trail setup with parking, etc, just to tear it down. From the news article, it sounds like the wooden trestle is what's hurting the water flow during floods, by collecting debris.
It makes more sense, considering all imagery posted by newspapers has shown the timber pile trestlework, not the truss itself.
Hopefully the section 106 review gives us more info on the history of the structure as a whole, but I agree that they're unlikely to remove the truss.
I don't think the through truss is going to be demolished. It has been converted to a trail, and appears to be planned to be left in place.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dart-agrees-to-give-bridge...
There does appear to be a warren truss structure nearby @
31.753026, -96.488174.
It was not there when the bridge was in place.
The ruler tool in Google Earth indicates that it has length and width dimensions that are comparable to those of the missing bridge.
Unless the bridge is out of view on the old alignment, things don't look so good.
I was thinking the same thing Luke. 1890's Warren ponies are rare birds to boot.
The article claims 1890, but if you look at images of the bridge, such as https://twoworldstreasures.com/10-surprising-things-to-see-a..., it matches ca 1910 trusses like http://bridgehunter.com/tx/ellis/mt-zion-road/ more than an 1890s structure.
I was about to mention that this bridge was an interesting pinned and riveted hybrid but I noticed that Anthony had already discussed that. This is one of those bridges that gets very interesting when you start looking at fine details.
Looks like a new cement bridge is in place.
There is a second similar bridge just to the south on this same property at 33.642329, -97.095273. It is a bit harder to spot because of the trees.
Lake Ray Roberts, about 15 miles to the south, was under construction from 1982 to 1987. There are a good number of similar bridges that were removed from the lake area and are now in parks and on private property throughout several north Texas counties.
Lake Ray Roberts, about 25 miles to the southeast, was under construction from 1982 to 1987. There are a good number of similar bridges that were removed from the lake area and are now in parks and on private property throughout several north Texas counties.
Photos from a 12/2019 visit to the park. The City of Muenster was kind enough to respond to my inquiry about the bridge's background, but unfortunately, even they don't know much in terms of its history, but they indicated that the bridge had been here for about thirty years.
On private land.
I agree, this is far better than the fate of so many pony trusses. If at some future date it is decided to place it in a better location and configuration, much of the original will still exist for people to enjoy.
This is sort of like having elephants in a zoo; inappropriate, but possibly the first exposure for some people, which may lead to a greater appreciation of those "in the wild".
Kudos to someone for not scrapping it.
This should be called the OMG WTF bridge...
Unrelated to the bridge/for Mike, though, since he'll probably enjoy the bassline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv4wf7bzfFE&feature=youtu.be...
2019 was given by the EXIF data, so I didn't bother to change it.
And I'll add the Faux Covered Bridge category, just to be cheeky.
And while it's functionality as a bridge is now lost, considering it sat since around 2009, this use is better than totally being scrapped IMO.
