Rating:
5 votes

Clear Creek Bridge

Shelby County, Kentucky

Photos 

Overview

The Clear Creek Bridge is a Bailey Bridge. A Bailey Bridge is a "portable" bridge primarily used by the military due to the fact that it can be constructed and taken down in a very short amount of time. The truss sections of a Bailey Bridge are modular and can be put together and come apart kind of like "Lego" blocks.

Photo taken by James McCray

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BH Photo #111299

Map 

Facts 

Overview
Pony truss bridge over Clear Creek on Jail Hill Road in Shelbyville
Location
Shelbyville, Shelby County, Kentucky
Status
Closed to all Traffic
History
Built 1982
Builders
- Appleby-Frodingham Steel Co. of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom (Steel Manufacturer)
- Thos. Storey Engineers Ltd of Openshaw, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Design
Bailey pony truss
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 89.9 ft.
Total length: 90.9 ft.
Deck width: 10.8 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude
+38.21222, -85.21500   (decimal degrees)
38°12'44" N, 85°12'54" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
16/656271/4230867 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Shelbyville
Average daily traffic (as of 2006)
145
Inventory numbers
KY 106-C00047N (Kentucky bridge number)
BH 18944 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection report (as of September 2012)
Overall condition: Poor
Superstructure condition rating: Imminent Failure (1 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Imminent Failure (1 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 17.6 (out of 100)
View more at BridgeReports.com

Categories 

Appleby-Frodingham Steel Co. (1)
Bailey truss (186)
Built 1982 (75)
Built during 1980s (729)
Built in the United Kingdom (4)
Closed (2,720)
Kentucky (1,351)
Modern (2,531)
One-lane traffic (7,670)
Owned by county (21,305)
 Pony truss (16,685)
Relocated (984)
Shelby County, Kentucky (8)
Shelbyville, Kentucky (3)
Span length 75-100 feet (6,555)
Structurally deficient (13,354)
Thos. Storey Engineers Ltd (1)
Total length 75-100 feet (6,685)
Truss (34,252)
Wooden deck (6,109)

Update Log 

  • January 6, 2014: Updated by Luke Harden: Added builder info
  • September 1, 2011: New photos from James McCray
  • August 30, 2011: Updated by J.P.: Bridge is closed to all traffic
  • February 5, 2008: New photos from James McCray

Sources 

  • James McCray - jamesinslocomb [at] yahoo [dot] com
  • J.P. - wildcatjon2000 [at] gmail [dot] com
  • Luke
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Comments 

Clear Creek Bridge
Posted March 29, 2017, by Walter Laughlin (laughlin [dot] robert [at] gmail [dot] com)

Just FYI: Regarding this linked article, Shelbyville is WEST of Lexington, not east. It is east of Louisville.

http://thebridgehunter.areavoices.com/2014/01/22/bailey-trus...

Clear Creek Bridge
Posted January 16, 2016, by Robert W. M. Laughlin (laughlin [dot] robert [at] gmail [dot] com)

The guess that it replaced a through truss about 1982 is correct, though I believe the year was 1980. Prior to this there was a covered bridge at the site - replaced about 1905.

https://www.facebook.com/ShelbyHD/photos/pb.979647302078304....

https://www.facebook.com/ShelbyHD/photos/pb.979647302078304....

Clear Creek Bridge
Posted January 22, 2014, by Jason Smith (JDSmith77 [at] gmx [dot] net)

http://thebridgehunter.areavoices.com/2014/01/22/bailey-trus...

Clear Creek Bridge
Posted January 15, 2014, by Will Bollinger (Mustangwill [at] yahoo [dot] com)

Could anyone give me any information about this bridge. I would like to relocate it to my farm. Please email me at mustangwill@yahoo.com

Thank you

Clear Creek Bridge
Posted January 6, 2014, by Nathan Holth (form3 [at] historicbridges [dot] org)

The patent plate is another noteworthy detail I have not seen before. Another thing to look for is some of these older Bailey trusses seem to have the model number welded onto the ends of the top of the end posts. MkII is a common one apparently standing for model Mark 2. Can't tell if this one has a model number marked on it.

Clear Creek Bridge
Posted January 6, 2014, by Nathan Holth (webmaster [at] historicbridges [dot] org)

The Frodingham brand (British) on the steel suggests this may be a World War II era reused Bailey truss. I usually only see Frodingham brands when in Canada, since finding British steel in the USA is almost unheard of.

Clear Creek Bridge
Posted August 30, 2011, by Tony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

My guess is that this span replaced an earlier through truss at this location in 1982. The cut stone abutments suggest it was a rather old (pre-1900) bridge.