Cottonwood River-Quail Creek Road Bridge

Nathan:

Thanks for the reply. I had been suspecting that those lower cord eyebars might be continuous through the hip vertical area. This bridge seems to have a few unusual features which is one reason why I'm hoping to research it when I get a chance. I'm afraid that this one might be in danger of collapse.

Some builders ran the bottom chord continuous over the end two panels (meaning the end eyebars are two panels long) and it looks like this is the case here, thus what you see is a guide, the bottom chord eyebar is not physically connected to anything at this panel point.

Am I seeing things, or do the hip verticals on this bridge connect to the lower chord via a peculiar bracket?

Well, if those northern lally columns give way, both spans are going into the river. I am pretty certain that this exactly how we lost both spans of the Columbia Bridge in Franklin Co. I am still kicking myself for not being proactive on that one.

http://bridgehunter.com/ks/franklin/bh36236/

This one may have a few non standardized details. Look at the hip vertical - lower chord connection. It looks like there may be an unusual bracket of some sort on the top side of the lower chord. It is a bit hard to tell on my mobile device.

The hip verticals themselves are very lightweight.

I am still thinking 1880 - 1900. Does anyone think it is older? Newer? Any guesses concerning the builder?

Well, first let me fulfill the prophecy of Anonymous...WOW!

Okay, that said, this is a fascinating bridge. It has some of the simplest portal bracing I have ever seen, although I have seen other bridges with roughly the same type.

In addition, the Queenpost pony has outriggers. I cannot tell for sure on my mobile device, but I they might be cruciform outriggers. If so, this could indicate a very old span.

This one could certainly date to the 1880s or 1890s. I suspect that it is pre - 1900 given its lightweight construction, short panels, uncommon portal bracing, and potential cruciform outriggers.

This is another one that merits a high priority for restoration. Nobody wins when a bridge collapses. When a bridge hits the water, it can be a devastating loss of history. It also makes for an expensive environmental cleanup. Now compare that mess with a beautifully restored truss. Which do you prefer? A good outcome is worth striving for.

This sucker is up there!

Thar she blows!! Don't mean to get wordy (tend to do that) but this might not have happened at all if not for the sweet, elderly property owner driving down the driveway as I approached from the road - turns out the large south-river-side property is owned by at least two families, maybe even more, several houses on the large river-front piece of land, woman I spoke to was very welcoming and proud to show it off, a true stilt-standing survivor, not sure if it's apparent in the photos but the north side is starting to lean heavily to the east, columns collapsing in mud - fun experience, very cool bridge!!

On the seat of my chair, waiting to see what this turns out to be. I don't know that anything will ever top your 1878 Whipple truss but this one has the potential to be very old based on the lightweight construction and short panels.

Slainte mhath!

May try both the Marion Co. anomalies this weekend - along with any of the 30-40 others I have mapped out over my 3-day weekend. Look for updates and 1st-time photos of many KS bridges (I'm hoping) over the next few days.

I am sure that one of us will make it here in good time if we can get landowner permission. If Nick or Sheldon beat me to it, more power to them.

I did update the KHRI listing for the Bellefontaine Bridge a few miles downstream from this one. I mentioned that it is the only known Bellefontaine product West of the Mississippi River.

I haven't noticed anything from the lad in same time now.

I do wish our roving Kansas Bridgehunter would make it out to this one soon... Dying to know what we have here! Like yourself Robert, I suspect we have a thru and pony here.

By the way, has anybody heard from Sheldon lately? I have not seen him on here for a while. I hope that he is still chasing bridges. We would have not known about this one if he had not added it.

I did not get a chance to ask permission to visit this bridge on my last trip to Kansas, even though it has been on my bucket list ever since Sheldon discovered it.

The main span appears to be only about 100 feet long, yet it has 7 panels. In other words, the panels are only about 14 feet in length. Generally speaking, with Pratt through trusses, short panels such as these often indicate an older truss. Granted, this is not a hard and fast rule, but most post - 1900 Pratt through trusses have panels that are longer than 14 feet. Given the lightweight construction of this particular span, an 1890s, or even 1880s bridge is not out of the question. This may turn out to be a basic garden variety Pratt with A - frame portal bracing, but on the other hand, it might be a rather old and rare one with interesting portal bracing.

I still think that there might be a Queenpost pony on the north end.

Google Maps has some relatively new imagery taken in the Winter. This appears to be a very lightweight 7 panel Pratt through truss. It may even be pre- 1900 and possibly wrought iron, but only a field check and/or record search will tell us for certain.

There may be a pony truss at the North end, or we may just have Queenpost - like shadows. I cannot tell for certain.

The county road map from 2007 shows the roads still under control of the county from both directions although the bridge doesn't show. I think with a copy of the map, a polite manner (and perhaps a hunter orange vest with a hard hat), a person could walk the roadway without anyone having a reason to hassle them.

http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/county-pdf/marion.PDF

Remember the tick repellant!

Yes, if I still lived in Kansas, it would be nice to photograph that bridge. I am curious if it is the same as the Doyle Creek Bridge near Florence, which was replaced by a UCEB.

Sheldon, you could tell him that his private bridge will be featured on a world-class, world-famous website! And you wouldn't even be lying! :>D

I would ask him. I'm sure he would allow you to photograph the bridge if you say that you are a photographer for the Historic Bridges of the US. ;-)

Hey Robert,

Wilbert Bartel is the name of that man who owns the Bartel bridge. But I don't think he will let me go on his property to photograph the bridge. He might let you do it though.

Chelsea, watch it this is a public forum. Also, I was only one of the people who gave this bridge a fraction star so at least two others in the crowd felt the same way. No need to make false assumpution cause you know what that makes you.

I live in Texas now, so I won't be in the area anytime soon. Sheldon, do you know the landowners of this or the Bartel Farm Bridge? Would they let you take photographs?

Anyone close enough to get some actual photos?

I concur with the majority here......Although there has been a collective frustration with some of Sheldon's previous postings, he has improved greatly in his understanding of the type's of structures to add here.

My hat's off to those here who have stayed positive and encouraged young Sheldon through this journey.....And to the "Anonymous" minority out there I would just remind you that you were once young (perhaps you still are) and are by no means perfect in your own right.

I have been at a conference for the past week. I come back and see a rip on Sheldon for asking a question. This kind of degrading seems uncalled for when looking at Sheldon's recent contributions. Like it was mentioned before, Sheldon has been doing some excellent work lately and finding this structure is an excellent addition to the collection.

Good Work Sheldon!

I just rated it a 4 star, though if I found out it was really unique (ie unusual design, rare example of a particular firm, etc), I could certainly update it to a 5.

I have suspected that "Anonymous" is at work as well.

It's probably the three "Anonymous" cowards deliberately giving the bridge low ratings just because Sheldon added it...Hopefully, my 5-star rating of this structure will help out the average a bit! :>)

A fraction of a star? This one is a truss!

Thank you very much, guys. Just going to move past him.

Ignoring "Anonymous" is your best bet, Sheldon. You've been giving us great postings lately. Don't let 'em grind you down!

I agree--this is a nice find and a great example of a bridge that needs to be rediscovered so that it can be preserved rather than forgotten about and eventually scrapped. It's been fun watching Sheldon learning along with the rest of us on this site.

Time for some field work on this bridge before all the leaves are out--and time for the tick spray as well.

Sheldon great add man. I have no idea why people have to be rude. Mr. or Ms. A. Post your name for once. I do it on all my post no matter what.

Sheldon:

You are right to ignore Anonymous - (s)he does not have the courage to post under a proper name. Some anonymous poster has attacked me in the past for simply expressing opinions about the construction or design of bridges. I guess all we can do is grab some popcorn and watch anonymous continue to pout. I am sure he will attack me for this post too...

Robert

What's up with this Anonymous thing? He's blaming me for so much modern bridge posting. Now I have learned to quit posting modern bridges and search for historic or spectacular structures. I am going to ignore this Anonymous guy until he will stop blaming me or learn to use his real name.

I fully agree with Jason here--after all, nobody would know about this extant truss if it weren't for Sheldon! It's been a long time since he's posted a UCEB, and he's caught on quite nicely! Sheldon, keep up the good work!

Oh, and Anon--a real name might be nice.

Sheldon:

UCEB stands for Ugly Concrete Eyesore Bridge.

Thanks for the update on this bridge - it is good to know that the truss is extant. I would not have known about this bridge if you had not added it.

What are UCEBs?

By the way, my dad used to ride across this bridge when he was little with my grandpa. Apparently this bridge was closed to traffic in the late 1970's and then the deck of the bridge was left to deteriorate and get destroyed by flooding. Of course the bridge is still there. But the deck is completely gone and all that is left is the frame of the bridge.

Exactly - this one escaped everybody's detection except Sheldon's. I can't find it in the NBI either.

This was Sheldon's find......I just happened upon it and found the Bing image. We just need to get him to concentrate on these hidden trusses out there and to leave the UCEB's alone!

Great find! It sure appears to be extant. I have searched the KSHS database and have not yet found this bridge, so it may have even escaped their detection.