Northwest Side, Looking South
Photo taken by Jerry Mathiason, May 1996, for HAER
View photos at Library of Congress
BH Photo #120012
The Meadow Hill Drive Bridge is an excellent example of a steel, riveted, Parker overhead truss designed by the Wisconsin State Highway Commission during the period 1911 to 1925. During these years, the commission took on the responsibility of designing all highway bridges in the state, utilizing standardized plans. While the riveted steel superstructure of the Meadow Hill Drive Bridge is heavier than that of earlier bridges built by independent bridge companies, the construction in not nearly so substantial as trusses dating from the following period, between 1926 and 1931, when the state used larger-section steel members. Steel overhead trusses are now fairly rare in Wisconsin, most having been replaced. Parker trusses are particularly scarce, for fewer trusses of this kind were built than the more common Pratt.