The Elm Street lenticular truss in Neshanic Station NJ.
Photo taken by Andrew Pearce in August 2012
BH Photo #237666
This bridge has moderate amounts of modifications to stiffen it against side to side swaying; each vertical has a double corner brace connecting it to the top struts, and both ends of each "lens" have welded on bracing. Recent rehabilitation has also strengthened the top chord and floor beams, and put new pins in everywhere.
This is a fairly popular bridge online. You can find quite a bit of information and many pictures of it at http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowse... and you can get many hits from Googling "Lenticular bridge neshanic station".
None of that will really give you the experience though. This great heap of bent and riveted white painted steel is impressive as all get out to those who are effected by such things. It's amazing. And it's all right at the end of your arm, as the walkway is set partway up the truss. All the pins, rods, tension adjusters, laced verticals, diagonals, turnbuckles ... it's all right in front of you. And the bridge does not get so much traffic that you feel pressured to move along. What makes it even better is the 2 span abandoned railroad bridge 50 yards away, a pin connected Pratt that is rusting and rotting away to nothing, right next to the old mill the RR once supplied. Both bridges were built at the same time.
Park at the post office a block away and walk back. You can get under the bridge though all the land is marked No Trespassing.
From here it is only a couple of miles drive to see 3 or more of the more interesting old truss bridges in Somerset County, including a Phoenix column RR bridge and ending with the Nevius Street Whipple, plus 2 or more very pretty brand new pony truss bridges.
Nice barrel shot from Flickr. I'm really starting to like white bridges.
Oh, by the way, the RR bridge is mentioned in the text above and is in the foreground of the picture but does not seem to have it's own listing. It's quite impressive in it's own right.
Posting here in order to avoid a reference loop on Nathan's site. :^)
http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2013/12/glimpse_of_hist...
Interesting.
I don't think I double counted but if bridgehunter is correct regarding listings and status, there are still 60 Lenticular trusses in existence (in varying conditions) in the US. That was actually a pleasant surprise.
That said, more than half are at risk.
Regards,
Art S.