Wednesday, May 20, 2026

HISTORIC STEEL TRUSS BRIDGES IN THE UNITED STATES

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HISTORIC STEEL TRUSS BRIDGES IN THE UNITED STATES (99)

     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 


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OHIO STEEL TRUSS BRIDGES (49)

 

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INDIANA STEEL TRUSS BRIDGES (50)

 

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OLD WELLS STREET BRIDGE - FORT WAYNE, INDIANA










Old Wells Street Bridge, Wells St. Fort Wayne, in Allen County, Indiana. Intersected-Wells St. over St. Marys, River. Construction Date-1884. Structure Length-180'. Structure Type-Single Span, Metal 15 Panel Pin-Connected Whipple (Double Intersection Pratt) Through Truss, Fixed. Builder/Contractor: Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, Engineer/Design: William H. Goshorn and Alvin John Stewart. Rehabilitation Date: 1982. Inventory Number: N/A. GPS: 41.082810, -85.144080.

Statement of Significance
The Wells Street Bridge is significant as a unusual example of an historic metal bridge type, the Whipple truss. The Whipple truss was designed as as improvement over the older Pratt truss. Squire Whipple, who was internationally recognized for his bridge designs, created the Whipple truss in 1846 by merely extending diagonal web members across two panels instead of one panel. (this single variation more evenly distributed stress and greatly improved the strength of the truss, allowing iron bridges to carry heavier loads across longer spans.) From 1865 to 1885, the Whipple was the favorite of engineers for long spans.  The Pratt truss in more commonly used on Indiana's iron bridges. Over 350 Pratt truss bridges remain in Indiana, while only 30 Whipple truss spans exist  in the state. 

Architectural Description
Fabricated by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, this double-intersection Pratt (Whipple) through truss may have been erected under the watch of N. Goshorn, Allen County Engineer. It still stands upon its original cut stone abutments and wingwalls. The single span of 180' is carried by endposts and top chords of fabricated heavy channels and cover plate and is subdivided into fifteen panels by intermediate verticals constructed from four sizes of laced heavy channels (deceasing in size toward center span) riveted to reinforcing pin plates above and below. Double cylindrical eye-bars with turnbuckles stretch diagonally outwards from the five central pins; die-forged double rectangular eye-bars form the other diagonals. Double U-bolted to pins, girder floor beams stretch beyond the lower chord on each side to provide external sidewalks and internally support an asphalt-over-timber deck which carries a 23' roadway with 15'7' of vertical clearance.

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Monday, May 18, 2026

EAST SWINNEY PARK BRIDGE - FORT WAYNE, INDIANA









East Swinney Park Bridge, intersection at Mechanic St. & Elm. St., Fort Wayne, in Allen County, Indiana. Intersected-Rivergreenway(Non-Motorized Path) Over St. Marys River.  Construction Date-1898. Structure Length-180'. Structure Type-Metal 15 Panel Pin-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Fixed, and Approach Spans: Metal Stringer (Multi-Beam), Fixed. Builder/Contractor-King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Rehabilitation Date-N/A. Inventory Number-N/A. GPS: 41.077560, -85.159950

This is a turn-of-the-century Pin-Connected Pratt Through Truss bridge that was originally built to support pedestrian traffic only.
Architectural Description
The King Bridge Company of Cleveland secured a $2100 contract to build this major pedestrian entrance into Swinney Park in 1898. It consists of a through-truss span with five metal beam approaches to the west. The through-truss span consists of 1-foot panels. The top chord and end-panels were fabricated  from pair of channels and cover plate riveted together. For the outer pair of panels on each end of the lower chord, the members consist of a pair of channels riveted together with battens; the interior members rely on a pair of eye-bars. A pair of square rods provide the hip verticals; the interior ones were made from a pair of laced 5-inch channels. The diagonals rely on a pair rectangular eye-bars, tighter toward midspan. Five of the more central panels are countered with adjustable square rods. The portal struts are latticed; interior ones are a pair of laced angles and carry knee-braces. Rolled I floor-beams are U-bolted to the pins. They carry runs of channel stringers which support the walkway. Concrete substructure. Timber deck.

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