MCCONNELSVILLE BRIDGE - MCCONNELSVILLE, OHIO

McConnelsville (Morgan County Memorial) Bridge in McConnelsville, Ohio. Location - McConnelsville and Malta, Morgan County, Ohio, United States. Intersected - Riverview Rd. (CR-203) over Muskingum River. Construction Date - 1913. Length - 566'. Structure Type - Metal 11-Panel Rivet-Connected Parker Through Truss, Movable: Swing (Center Pier) and Approach Spans: Metal Rivet-Connected Parker Through Truss, Fixed. Builder/Contractor: Oregonia Bridge Company of Lebanon, Ohio. The bridge from southwest to northeast consists of a a 32 foot steel stringer span, a 7 panel 166 foot Parker truss span, an 11 panel 203 foot Parker through truss span, and lastly a Parker swing span which HistoricBridges.org estimates at a 190 foot span. The swing span is very similar in appearance to the fixed truss spans, except for a larger, heavy vertical member over the swing pier, and a lighter weight top chord and end post compared to the fixed spans. The swing span has not operated for boats for many years. However the gears and rack are in place, and the span still conveys its function as a swing span. Rehabilitation Date - 1991. Inventory Number - 5835712. GPS: 39.648387,-81.858071

FUDGE ROAD BRIDGE - GRATIS, OHIO

Fudge Road Bridge in Gratis, in Preble County, in Ohio. Intersected-Fudge Road (TR-347) Over Aukerman Creek. Construction Date-1913. Length-91'. Structure Type-Single Span, Metal 6 Panel Pin-Connected Pratt Half-Hip Pony Truss, Fixed. Builder/Contractor: Central States Bridge Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. Rehabilitation Date-Not Available. Inventory Number-6838235. GPS: 39.660070N, -84.520420W.   

DIXON ROAD BRIDGE - EATON, OHIO

 Dixon Road Bridge, six miles west of Eaton, in Preble County, in Ohio. Intersected-Dixon Road (TR-242) Over 4 Mile Creek. Construction Date-1958. Length-61'. Structure Type-Single Span, Metal 4 Panel Rivet-Connected Polygonal Warren Pony Truss, Fixed. Builder/Contractor: Champion Bridge Company of Wilmington, Ohio. Rehabilitation Date-Not Available. Inventory Number-6836488. GPS: 39.728970°N, -84.765360°W.

The 1950s and 1960s were the finality of the transition from aesthetic bridge design to "purely functional" bridge design, where the "art" in bridge building came to a close thus ending a tradition of beauty in bridges. As a result, this bridge, with a 1958 construction date, represents the end of this transition. While it still has aesthetic value, mainly in the old-fashioned rivets, it is quite plain, with its rolled i-beams.

SMITH ROAD BRIDGE - FAIRHAVEN, OHIO

Smith Road Bridge in Fairhaven, in Preble County, in Ohio. Intersected- Concord-Fairhaven Road Over 4 Mile Creek. Construction Date-1955. Length-76.0'. Structure Type-Single Span, Metal 5 Panel Rivet-Connected Polygonal Warren Pony Truss, Fixed. Builder/Contractor: Champion Bridge Company of Wilmington, Ohio. Rehabilitation Date-Not Available. Inventory Number-6841333. GPS: 39.651080°N, -84.768740°W.

This bridge is one of a number of unusual pony truss bridges built by the Champion Bridge Company in Preble County well after the truss bridge era had come to a close in most of the country. They are noted for their use of modern design such as rolled beams and omission of any built-up beams, while continuing the older, traditional use of rivets for connections. The riveted connections are a contrast to the welded truss bridges that were built in Ohio around the same time as these bridges and continue to be built in the present day.