Ralph Modjeski
of Bochnia, Poland
View Exhibit mapRalph Modjeski (January 27, 1861 – June 26, 1940) was a Polish-born American engineer who achieved prominence as a pre-eminent bridge designer in the United States. In 1893, in Chicago, Modjeski opened his own design office, which still exists as "Modjeski & Masters," after it was joined in 1924 by Frank M. Masters. Modjeski's first project as chief engineer was Government Bridge over Mississippi River at Rock Island, IL. He took over the mis-designed Quebec Bridge after the 1907 disaster that killed 75 workers, and succeeded in creating the longest truss span in the world. Modjeski was world-famous as a designer of bridges and built nearly 40 bridges spanning the great rivers of North America. He trained succeeding generations of American bridge designers and builders, including Joseph B. Strauss. Modjeski was considered "America's greatest bridge builder." He was the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees.
MODJESKI INFORMATION:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Modjeski
SOURCES:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Modjeski
Ralph Modjeski was the son of Helena Modjeska, a famous and popular Shakespearian actress from Krakow. She settled in California in the landmark Modjeska House also known as Forest of Arden. She also had two American theaters named for her in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Augusta, Georgia.
Alaska - Mears Memorial Bridge (Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska)
Chief Bridge Engineer, 1923Pennsylvania through truss bridge over Tanana River on single track of the Alaska Railroad in NenanaOpen to traffic
Ambassador Bridge (Wayne County, Michigan)
Built 1929Wire suspension bridge over Detroit River on US I-96 and Canada 3 in Windsor, Ontario Canada and DetroitOpen to traffic
Amtrak - Groton Bridge (New London County, Connecticut)
Chief Engineer, 1919Vertical-lift through truss bridge over Thames River on Northeast Corridor (Amtrak)Open to traffic
Arsenal Bridge (Scott County, Iowa)
Engineer, 1896Baltimore through truss bridge over Mississippi River on 2 lanes of traffic and 2 rail lines in DavenportOpen to traffic
Benjamin Franklin Bridge (Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania)
Chief Engineer, 1926Suspension bridge over Delaware River on I-676/US 30 in PhiladelphiaOpen to traffic
Blue Water Bridge (St. Clair County, Michigan)
Design, 1938Through truss bridge over St. Clair River on Westbound I-94 in Port HuronOpen to traffic
BNSF - Celilo Bridge (Wasco County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1912Vertical lift bridge over Columbia River on Oregon Trunk Railroad Line in Celilo, OR and Wishram, WAOpen to traffic
BNSF - Columbia Slough Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1908Pratt through truss bridge over Columbia Slough on BNSF Railway in PortlandOpen to traffic
BNSF - Crooked River Bridge (Jefferson County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1911Steel arch bridge over Crooked River on BNSF/Union Pacific Railroad in TerrebonneOpen to traffic
BNSF - Missouri River High Bridge (Burleigh County, North Dakota)
Chief Engineer, 1905Pennsylvania through truss bridge over Missouri River on BNSF RailwayOpen to traffic
BNSF - Oregon Slough Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1908Swing span through truss bridge over Columbia River - Oregon Slough on BNSF Railway in PortlandOpen to traffic
BNSF - Willamette River Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Built 1908Vertical lift bridge over Willamette River on BNSF Railway Line in PortlandOpen to traffic
Bridge Camp Bridge (King County, Washington)
Built 1902Pratt pony truss bridge over White River on Pedestrian WalkwayOpen to traffic
Bridge Street Bridge (LaSalle County, Illinois)
Built 1911Deck plate girder bridge over Vermilion River on Eastbound IL 18Superstructure replaced
Broadway Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1912Rall-Bascule lift bridge over Willamette River on Broadway Street in PortlandOpen to traffic
Cairo Ohio River Bridge (Alexander County, Illinois)
Design, 1937Cantilevered through truss over the Ohio River on US 51/60/62 between Cairo, Illinois and Wickliffe, KentuckyOpen to two-lane traffic
Cherry Street Bridge (1914) (Lucas County, Ohio)
Chief Engineer, Adapted Plans By Others, 1914Bascule bridge over Maumee River on Cherry Street in ToledoOpen to traffic
Cincinnati Southern Bridge (Hamilton County, Ohio)
Built 1922Through truss bridge over Ohio River on Norfolk Southern Railroad in CincinnatiOpen to traffic
Clark Memorial Bridge (McCracken County, Kentucky)
Design, 1931Three-span through truss bridge over Tennessee River on US 60 in LedbetterDemolished and replaced.
East Street Bridge (Wood County, West Virginia)
Designer, 1907Lost Through truss bridge over Little Kanawha River on West Virginia 14A (Alternate 14)Replaced by new bridge
Fessenden Street Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1909Warren deck truss bridge over BNSF Railway on Fessenden Street in PortlandOpen to traffic
George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge (Jefferson County, Kentucky)
Design, 1929Polygonal Warren cantilevered through truss bridge over Ohio River on US 31 between Louisville and JeffersonvilleOpen to traffic
Government Bridge (Scott County, Iowa)
Built 1872Lost Pratt through truss bridge over Mississippi River on Railroad and RoadReplaced by a new bridge because of an icy flood storm
Harahan Bridge (Shelby County, Tennessee)
Built 1916Cantilevered through truss railroad bridge over the Mississippi River at MemphisOpen to railroad traffic on two tracks; road deck rebuilt for pedestrian use
I-74 Bridge (Scott County, Iowa)
Chief Engineer, 1935Pair of suspension bridges over the Mississippi River on I-74 between Bettendorf and MolineOpen to traffic
Manhattan Bridge (New York County, New York)
Built 1909Suspension bridge over East River in New York CityOpen to seven lanes of highway traffic and four subway tracks
McKinley Bridge (St. Louis, Missouri)
Built 1910Through truss bridge over the Mississippi River at St. LouisOpen to traffic
Metropolis Bridge (Massac County, Illinois)
Consulting Engineer, 1917Six-span through truss bridge over the Ohio River on the Canadian National Railway at MetropolisOpen to railroad traffic
Mid Hudson Bridge (Ulster County, New York)
Chief Engineer, 1930Suspension bridge over Hudson River on US 44 and NY 55 in Highland and PoughkeepsieOpen to traffic
MON - Paoli Viaduct (Orange County, Indiana)
Built 1904Lost Deck plate girder bridge over Lost River on former Monon Railroad in PaoliRemoved
North Lombard Street Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Engineer, 1909Warren deck truss bridge over the BNSF Railroad on N. Lombard St. in PortlandOpen to traffic
Old Keokuk-Hamilton Bridge (Lee County, Iowa)
Chief Engineer, 1916Through truss bridge over Mississippi River on Keokuk Junction RailwayOpen to rail traffic only. The upper deck on the Iowa side has been converted to an observation deck; the upper deck on the Illinois side is closed to traffic. Roadway traffic has been shifted to the 1985 beam span to the southwest of the bridge
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (San Francisco County, California)
Consulting Engineer, 1936Suspension bridge over San Francisco Bay on I-80 connecting San Francisco, Yerba Buena Island, and Oakland. New eastern span is a 1400 foot single anchored suspension bridgeOpen to traffic
Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge (Mason County, Kentucky)
Design, 1931Suspension bridge over Ohio River on Business US 62/68 in MaysvilleOpen to traffic
Smithland Bridge (Livingston County, Kentucky)
Design, 1931Through truss bridge over Cumberland River on US 60 at SmithlandOpen to traffic
Sylvan Slough Viaduct (Rock Island County, Illinois)
Built 1907Pony plate girder bridge over Sylvan Slough on 24th StreetOpen to traffic
Tacony-Palmyra Bridge (Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania)
Chief Engineer, 1929Bascule bridge over Delaware River on NJ 73 in PhiladelphiaOpen to traffic
Thebes Bridge (Alexander County, Illinois)
Chief engineer, 1905Cantilevered through truss railroad bridge over the Mississippi River at ThebesOpen to railroad traffic on two tracks
Twin Bridges (Henderson County, Kentucky)
Design, 1932Pair of cantilevered through truss bridges over the Ohio River on US 41. Rehabilitated 2008Open to traffic
UP - Melville Bridge (St. Landry Parish, Louisiana)
Chief engineer, 1929Warren through truss bridge over Atchafalaya River on Union Pacific Railroad at MelvilleOpen to traffic
UP - Omaha Railroad Bridge (1887) (Douglas County, Nebraska)
Assistant Engineer, 1887Lost Whipple through truss bridge over Missouri River on Union Pacific RailroadReplaced by new bridge
Walkway Over The Hudson (Dutchess County, New York)
1907 Rehab, 1888Cantilevered deck truss bridge over the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie and HighlandOpen to pedestrians
Willamette Blvd. Bridge (Multnomah County, Oregon)
Built 1909Warren deck truss bridge over BNSF Railway on Willamette Blvd. in PortlandOpen to traffic
Wissahickon Memorial Bridge (Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania)
Engineer, 1931Open-spandrel arch bridge over Wissahickon Creek/Lincoln Drive on Henry AvenueOpen to traffic