Clanton Creek Bridge
Facts
- Overview
- Through truss bridge over Clanton Creek on 282nd Trail
- Location
- Madison County, Iowa
- Status
- Wooden Deck Removed, NW & SE Approaches Removed
- History
- Built 1894; Relocated here 1952; Rehabilitated 1974; partially dismantled 2014
- Builder
- - George E. King Bridge Co. of Des Moines, Iowa
- Design
- Pin-connected, 6-panel Pratt through truss
- Dimensions
-
Length of largest span: 109.0 ft.
Total length: 128.0 ft.
Deck width: 13.8 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 10.0 ft.
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +41.23944, -93.89715 (decimal degrees)
41°14'22" N, 93°53'50" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 15/424821/4565725 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- East Peru
- Land survey
- T. 74 N., R. 26 W., Sec. 6
- Average daily traffic (as of 2016)
- 35
- Inventory numbers
- IA 231650 (Iowa bridge number)
BH 13944 (Bridgehunter.com ID) - Inspection report (as of September 2017)
- View more at BridgeReports.com
Update Log
- January 30, 2018: New photos from Kevin Skow
- April 12, 2015: Updated by Kevin Skow: Updated Bridge Condition after Visit
- August 18, 2013: New photos from James Baughn
- August 15, 2013: Updated by James Baughn: This bridge is closed to traffic
Sources
- James Baughn - webmaster [at] bridgehunter [dot] com
- Kevin Skow - weatherbum [at] hotmail [dot] com
Comments
Found the answer to my old question. This bridge was moved here in 1952, which would account for the mystery pier below the structure, which would have been from the previous bridge.
As I've looked more at the photos I posted last week of the bridge (in particular http://bridgehunter.com/photos/32/21/322166-L.jpg), I am scratching my head as to why there is a pier on the northwest end of the bridge. That pier is on the left side of the photo and has since partially collapsed. It doesn't appear to have borne any structural load. Was there another bridge here before this one?
Was unfortunate to see this bridge partially dismantled/damaged in such a short time since the last photos of it on this site were taken in 2013. The northern road has been removed and converted to farmland. Still was a good photo subject.
Pure speculation, but the portal bracing indicates a possible George E. King structure. Of course, portal bracing rarely gives a definitive identification of the builder, but it can provide some clues.
Thanks for putting a name to the detail. Armed with that information, I found another publication that describes the detail, and notably includes a drawing on the following page.
http://books.google.com/books?id=GcM5AAAAMAAJ&dq=%22Star%20S...
Waddell calls it a "star strut", and seems to not like ones made from only two angles like the ones on this bridge.
In the glossary in the 1916 edition of _Bridge_Engineering_ he says, "A strut formed of either two or four angles placed back to back. The two-angle form is not a satisfactory type, as it fails to develop as high an ultimate strength as might properly be anticipated."
I haven't seen many star struts - and haven't ever seen any others built with lattice tying the angle stock together.
James and I discussed this vertical detail and its not like anything either of us has seen before.
The vertical member in photo 8 has been built up in an unusual way. Anyone know of others like it?
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/ia/madison/231650/
This bridge vertical and one on the Barker Bridge in Williamson County, Tx
George King did build down there so it makes sense. The Barker Bridge did have a dis-configuring makeover to it's portals that hinders a possible connection, but this feature is so unusual I feel that parental lineage is very likely.
Photos "Borrowed" from James Baughn and Garry Taylor for comparison usage.