Riley Lake Bridge
Facts
- Overview
- Pratt through truss bridge over Riley Creek on Kaskaskia Street (FAS 861) north of Fort Kaskaskia State Park
- Location
- Randolph County, Illinois
- Status
- Abandoned on private property, but appears to be intact
- History
- Built 1893; bypassed 1979
- Builder
- - King Bridge Co. of Cleveland, Ohio
- Design
- Pin-connected, 5-panel Pratt through truss
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +37.98225, -89.92217 (decimal degrees)
37°58'56" N, 89°55'20" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/243352/4207874 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Kaskaskia
- Inventory number
- BH 15631 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- December 20, 2019: Updated by Tony Dillon: Added builder
- December 20, 2019: New photos from John Christeson
- March 12, 2017: New photos from David Huffman
- February 2, 2013: New photo from James Baughn
- May 1, 2006: Posted new photos
Sources
- Harriet Kuehne
- David Huffman
- John Christeson - john_christeson [at] yahoo [dot] com
- Tony Dillon - spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com
Comments
This is not the same bridge in the 2 photos...
The current span has just 5 panels and the one in the historic photo has 8.
Ms. Meehan....when I walked on that bridge and path it was still a bridge in use and not on private property. This was back in the 70's or possibly early 80's.
Then you'd better start running...
I can hear the Banjo playing now...
Let's just say that I've heard some "colorful" stories about this property over the years.
I do believe that he was referring to walking on it some time ago with his father...likely when it was still in use.
I notice that the more recent pic was taken from the new bridge. No reason to have your feathers ruffled...
If you where on that bridge and walking on that bridge then you should of know that the bridge is now private owed. To gain access to the bridge you had to past through a locked gate that says "keep out". The road was installed along side the bluff. Yes, that is the right bridge, but is now owned by the property owner.
Please respect the sign and the gate.
I do believe this is the bridge at Reily Lake. I've crossed it and walked it many times. My Dad grew up there. The road you see to the right...I walked it many times with my dad. There was an old spring up that road on the right.
The old pic acompaning this photo is more than likely not Rily Lake Bridge because there would be a bluff in the back ground to the left if facing southeast(towards Chester) or on the right if facing north(towards Ellis Grove). It does resimble another old bridge near where this pic is thought to be taken. Its south east of Chester. The local kids called it the old Iron Bridge is on the road going out of town off rt 3 south a little past the swimming pool and on the oppisite side of the road.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/il/randolph/riley-lake/
Tony: Yeah, I'm still trying to figure that one out. The historic photo has "Riley Lake" scribbled on it, but that may not be right. Both bridges, however, do have very similar portal braces and V-lacing.