This is one of six remaining bridges of the Arkansas Valley Interurban Railway (AVI) which ran from Wichita to Newton to Hutchinson. Built 1910 to 1912, abandoned 1942.
Sand Creek bridgehunter.com/ks/harvey/sand-creek blt 1910
East Emma Creek bridgehunter.com/ks/harvey/bh48893 blt 1911
West Emma Creek bridgehunter.com/ks/harvey/bh48879 blt 1911
Halstead Little Arkansas River bridgehunter.com/ks/harvey/bh43950 blt 1911
Mud Creek 38.035546,-97.385428, Harvey Co. blt 1910
Jester Creek 37.868421,-97.397506, Sedgwick Co. between Valley Center & Sedgwick. blt 1910
I'll be in Kansas City in a couple weeks. If I have time, I'll try to swing out there and have a look. I also want to look at the West Emma Creek bridge and see if I can get some good photos.
Following the presumed route of the AVI north through Van Arsdale and in to Newton, the Zimmerdale quad shows an old grade entering Newton from the West and Google maps shows another oddly placed concrete bridge crossing Mud Creek.
Someone close by needs to drive out for a field check otherwise I'm going to have to burn a lot of gas in the Suburban.
If this is indeed the old AVI line's bridges, there needs to be some sort of local recognition of their historic value.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
Looks like a Closed Spandrel to me. Good find!
Very nice to see pictures of this forgotten bridge.