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Barstow Bridge

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Map 

A brief history 

Written by K. A. Erickson

Although remote the Barstow crossing of the Kettle River was and still is always busy. Past bridges could not withstand weather, in particular flooding, and volume of traffic. After World War 2 the War Assets Administration also known as the Reconstruction Finance Corporation announced that counties could bid on surplus, prefabricated railway bridges. While intended to replace bridges war-damaged bridges in Europe, supply had exceeded demand thus these became available in the US as well.

Stevens County paid a total of $44,818.58 including shipping and installation for the bridge, the only one of its type used in Washington for vehicles. Since it was designed with railroads in mind it had a higher load rating than any other bridge in the state of like dimensions.

Selections taken from Spanning Washington's entry for Barstow Bridge pgs 135-136

Facts 

Overview
Lost pony truss bridge over Kettle River on Barstow Bridge Road
Location
Stevens County, Washington, and Ferry County, Washington
Status
Lost
History
Built 1947; rehabilitated 1986, Replaced 2010
Design
Pony truss
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 123.0 ft.
Total length: 183.1 ft.
Deck width: 10.8 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude
+48.78500, -118.12500   (decimal degrees)
48°47'06" N, 118°07'30" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
11/417361/5404166 (zone/easting/northing)
USGS topographic map
Bossburg
Inventory number
BH 34566 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection (as of 08/2007)
Deck condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Appraisal: Functionally obsolete
Sufficiency rating: 53.4 (out of 100)
Average daily traffic (as of 2004)
638

Update Log 

  • February 9, 2011: Essay added by K. A. Erickson

Sources