RI - Armourdale Bridge

News articles about proposed adaptive reuse:

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2019/06/23/kaw-r...

https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/development/article...

https://rockislandbridgeproject.org/

This could be an interesting project. Also a neat historic photo on the “history” page.

Kemper Arena end. For the tighter shot I was standing on the concrete levee.

I don't get down there except when there is an event but I got on the first span when the place was full of cars from two simultaneous events. I spent around 45 minutes looking and taking pictures (posted someday...). No sign of security.

This bridge is designed to lift to the level of the top of the levee so that it could avoid flood water pressure. It's now raised and locked in place with bracing. There's some nice old machinery visible. If I had been able to skip the event for longer I would have tried to get up to the "office" for a look.

My guess is that the area is well patrolled when it is deserted. Obviously they are watching the buildings, and an individual alone out over the river suggests that they need to investigate. Copper theft is also keeping folks alert around structures with electrical equipment.

It's probably like the MacArthur Bridge in St. Louis, you can get up there, it just depends on what time you try to get on it, and it also won't be easy.. Try at dawn-ish, but before first light, that way no one will (hopefully) see you get on the bridge.

and idea if or how i can get on this bridge to take some pictures? a friend of mine tried a few years back and the cops didn't like it too much

This bridge is listed as being in both Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, MO. I do not know if the bridge once had a longer approach on the eastern end, but in its current configuration it does not extend into Missouri.

I have not removed Kansas City, Missouri from location, because I am unfamiliar with any eastern approaches that may have been present on this bridge originally.

This bridge was not abandoned in 1972. I remember as a kid the railroad tracks wrapped around Kemper Arena through the parking lot and crossed the bridge. I do not remember when the tracks were officially taken up but it was in the early '80s.

This bridge was not abandoned in 1972 i spotted a potatoe car for Aright and sons around 1983 and used the bridge at that time shortly after it shut down .

This photo contains 3 out all 4 Kansas River Railroad Bridges.

Kansas River Railroad Bridge No. 4 is at the bottom.

Kansas River Railroad Bridge No. 3 is near the center of this photo. (Note the Cattle Chute Bridge between Bridge 3 & 4)

Kansas River Railroad Bridge No. 2 is at the top.

this photo was during the 1951 Kansas City Flood.

(The Central Ave. Bridge is also here, it is south of Railroad Bridge 2 and north of Bridge 3)

In the book

High and Rising: The 1951 Kansas City Flood

there is a photo with Rock Island rail cars filled with rock trying to save this bridge from the river waters and mud that are hitting it at high speed during the '51 flood.

this bridge is a reminder of how a steel bridge can take a beating.

This bridge, as does one of the twin UP bridges, have screw-jack lifting mechanisms to allow the bridge to clear floodwaters. This bridge is now permanently in the UP position. The UP bridge jacks were last used in the 1993 flood; I can not recall their use previously in my lifetime.

I believe the High Line bridge also originally had screw jacks . I recall the conversion to the hydraulic system in the early 60's.

It looks like this bridge has a vertical lift section but I don't see that mentioned anywhere here. What's that structure with the little house on top? Possibly the lift machinery?

This bridge was used by the the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific to connect the Armourdale Yd to the various facilities in the West Bottoms of KC.