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-1858. 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.

 

HISTORIC STEEL TRUSS BRIDGES IN THE UNITED STATES

HISTORIC STEEL TRUSS BRIDGES (89)

   During my traveling, photographing covered bridges, lighthouses, and historic homes, I come across these fascinating, architectural wonders. These steel truss bridges were the transitioning era from the covered bridges to the modern bridges of today. A lot of these trusses designs are similar to the wooden trusses of the covered bridges. Sadly, these bridges, just as the covered bridges, are getting more and more uncommon to see. As more efficient bridges are being made, these old steel truss bridges are being replaced. Some smaller roads and rural areas are still home to these bridges, but even these are quickly being replaced due to the practicability of the cost of restoration and the load limits. There are city, state, and federal governments that have purposely kept some of these old bridges for historical purposes. However, to fully maintain their their true historic perspective is during the rehabilitation process, the original rivets are to be replaced by the rivet process, not by the newer engineering with bolts and nuts. The vast majority of these bridges are over 100 years old, however there are a few that are 80 years old but still constructed in the historic process. I am just starting this blog on May 12, 2023, I hope you will enjoy the posts. Please note, to see all posts, at the right bottom of each page click on "older posts".

(https://historicbridges.org/index.php) - source 

BROWER ROAD BRIDGE                                                     EATON, OHIO

PYRMONT ROAD BRIDGE                                                   LEWISBURG, OHIO

ST. CLAIR STREET BRIDGE                                                EATON, OHIO

RIP RAP ROAD BRIDGE (HOPE BRIDGE)                    DAYTON, OHIO

SMITH/CONCORD-FAIRHAVEN ROAD BRIDGE       FAIRHAVEN, OHIO

7 MILE ROAD BRIDGE                                                          PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO

JUNCTION ROAD BRIDGE                                                  PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO

FALKNOR ROAD BRIDGE                                                    COVINGTON, OHIO

MILL ROAD BRIDGE                                                              GETTYSBURG, OHIO

CR-21 BRIDGE                                                                           LOGANSVILLE, OHIO

PUMPHOUSE/OLD REID PARK BRIDGE                      SPRINGFIELD, OHIO

FLORENCE BRIDGE                                                               PICKAWAY COUNTY, OHIO

MARK ROAD BRIDGE                                                            FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO

BLOME ROAD BRIDGE                                                         READING, OHIO

STONELICK WILLIAM CORNER ROAD BRIDGE       STONELICK, OHIO

ALLEY FORD BRIDGE                                                           METAMORA, INDIANA

COUNTY LINE ROAD BRIDGE                       HANCOCK/RUSH COUNTY, INDIANA

ROBBINS FORD BRIDGE                                           DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA

GENEVA FORD BRIDGE                                             JENNINGS COUNTY, INDIANA

CAVEHILL ROAD BRIDGE                                             RIPLEY COUNTY, INDIANA

LOST BRIDGE                                                     DEARBORN/OHIO COUNTY, INDIANA

LAUGHERY CREEK BRIDGE                                                AURORA, INDIANA

GEORGE STREET BRIDGE                                                    AURORA, INDIANA

MALLAHAM BRIDGE                                                              PANDORA, OHIO

GILBOA BRIDGE                                                                       GILBOA, OHIO

DEY ROAD BRIDGE                                                                 DEFIANCE, OHIO

GREEN ROAD BRIDGE                                                           MARENGO, OHIO

NEWCOMER ROAD BRIDGE                                                EDISON, OHIO

INDIAN MILL BRIDGE                                                           UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO

FORT SENECA BRIDGE                                                          FORT SENECA, OHIO

TINDALL BRIDGE                                                                     BALLVILLE, OHIO

IN-1 (CR-900 WEST) BRIDGE                                 RANDOLPH COUNTY, INDIANA

IN-26 BRIDGE                                                                             PORTLAND, INDIANA

VERA CRUZ BRIDGE                                                                VERA CRUZ, INDIANA

MARION CENTER BRIDGE                                             ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA

CR-300 BRIDGE                                                                          MARKLE, INDIANA

CR-500 WEST BRIDGE                                                          ZANESVILLE, INDIANA

SOUTH COUNTY LINE ROAD BRIDGE                           ZANESVILLE, INDIANA

HAMILTON ROAD BRIDGE                                                    ROANOKE, INDIANA

MURPHY BRIDGE                                                                      WARREN, INDIANA

RANGELINE ROAD BRIDGE                                             HUNTINGTON, INDIANA

ROANOKE STATION BRIDGE                                                 ROANOKE, INDIANA

OLD WILLIAMS ROAD BRIDGE                                             BEDFORD, INDIANA

SADDLE BARN ROAD BRIDGE                                               BEDFORD, INDIANA  

FORT RITNER BRIDGE                                                         FORT RITNER, INDIANA  

VALLONIA BRIDGE                                                                     VALLONIA, INDIANA 

SPARKSVILLE BRIDGE                                                          SPARKSVILLE, INDIANA  

IN-256 WEST BRIDGE                                                                 AUSTIN, INDIANA   

CR-100 SOUTH BRIDGE                                                             VALLONIA, INDIANA 

TOBIAS BRIDGE                                                            JEFFERSON COUNTY, INDIANA 

IN-11 BRIDGE                                                                                  ROCKFORD, INDIANA 

CR-1225 NORTH BRIDGE                                           JENNINGS COUNTY, INDIANA   

NEW HOPE BRIDGE                                                                     COLUMBUS, INDIANA 

GALBRAITH BRIDGE                                                                   HARTSVILLE, INDIANA

PUGH FORD BRIDGE                                         BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY, INDIANA

STANDARDSBURG ROAD BRIDGE                                         MONROEVILLE, OHIO

SANDHILL ROAD BRIDGE                                                          MONROEVILLE, OHIO

STATION ROAD BRIDGE                                                              BRECKSVILLE, OHIO

LAMEREAUX ROAD BRIDGE                                                     MONROEVILLE, OHIO

VERMILION BRIDGE                                                                     VERMILION, OHIO

DEAN ROAD BRIDGE                                                                     BIRMINGHAM, OHIO 

HILLSIDE ROAD BRIDGE                                                            INDEPENDENCE, OHIO

PLEASANT VALLEY BRIDGE                                            WILLOUGHBY HILLS, OHIO

HOWARD VANDYKE BRIDGE                                             HAMMONDSVILLE, OHIO

YELLOW CREEK CHURCH ROAD BRIDGE                           SUMMITVILLE, OHIO

GRIMMS BRIDGE                                                                                CALCUTTA, OHIO

FREDERICKTOWN BRIDGE                                                  FREDERICKTOWN, OHIO

PANCAKE CLARKSON ROAD BRIDGE                                        CALCUTTA, OHIO

CARMEL ACHOR ROAD BRIDGE                                                   NEGLEY, OHIO

STATE LINE ROAD BRIDGE                                                             UNITY, OHIO

SHAFFER ROAD BRIDGE                                                           ROCK CREEK, OHIO

CLYDE HILL ROAD BRIDGE                                                     HARPERSFIELD, OHIO

ECHO DELL ROAD BRIDGE                                                      WILLIAMSPORT, OHIO

FULTON FARMS BRIDGE                                                                  TIPP CITY, OHIO

BURNETT'S CREEK/OLD IN-67 BRIDGE                        MARTINSVILLE, INDIANA

PETERSON FORD/GRANVILLE BRIDGE                            GRANVILLE, INDIANA

HIGH BANKS BRIDGE                                                                DALEVILLE, INDIANA

HUNTSVILLE ROAD BRIDGE                                                  HUNTSVILLE, INDIANA

BARNARD BRIDGE                                                                    NORTH SALEM, INDIANA

HAYS BRIDGE                                                                                  NASHVILLE, INDIANA

BROYLES ROAD/OLD US-36 BRIDGE                                           AVON, INDIANA

MCCOY ROAD BRIDGE                                                                   FILLMORE, INDIANA

HIBBS FORD BRIDGE                                                                GREENCASTLE, INDIANA

SR-122 SOUTH BRIDGE                                                              CLOVERDALE, INDIANA

IN-42 MILL CREEK BRIDGE                                                     CLOVERDALE, INDIANA

GEARHART ROAD/CHILDRENS HOME ROAD BRIDGE         SIDNEY, OHIO

SNYDER MEMORIAL BRIDGE                                                     SPRINGFIELD, OHIO

SMITH ROAD BRIDGE                                                                       FAIRHAVEN, OHIO

DIXON ROAD BRIDGE                                                                            EATON, OHIO

Snyder Memorial Bridge - Springfield, Ohio

Snyder Memorial Bridge in Springfield, in Clark County, in Ohio. Intersected-Snyder Park Road Over Buck Creek. Construction Date-1897. Length-124'. Structure Type-Single Span, Metal Three-Hinged Through Arch, Fixed. Builder/Contractor: Unknown. Rehabilitation Date-1995. Inventory Number-1260529. GPS: 39.933600°N, -83.837030°W.

The bridge is highly unusual from a design standpoint. The arch is technically a through arch, but the arch only rises above the roadway a short distance. Much of the arch is below the deck. The shallow arch is further masked by the unusual method in which the arch has been trussed. Typical trussed arches have truss work which follows the shape of the arch. However in this case, the truss is variable depth with a consistently horizontal top chord such that the bridge looks much like a simple pony truss rather than an arch bridge.

Gearhart Road/Childrens Home Road Bridge - Sidney, Ohio

The previous two photos were photographed by me on 6/24/2010

Gearhart Road/Childrens Home Road Bridge in Sidney, in Shelby County in Ohio. Intersected-Gearhart Road (Old Alignment) Over Great Miami River. Construction Date-1906. Length-345'. Structure Type-Two main span, one approach span, Metal 7 Panel Pin-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal 10 Panel Rivet-Connected Warren Pony Truss, Fixed. Builder/Contractor: Unknown. Rehabilitation Date-1973. Inventory Number-7540183. (This approach span was placed here in 1964 presumably as a replacement for a previous truss span). GPS: 40.273850°N, -84.153960°W.