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; when possible. 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".
Sunday, July 26, 2026
HISTORIC STEEL TRUSS BRIDGES IN THE UNITED STATES (109)
(https://historicbridges.org/index.php) - source
OLD CLAY'S FERRY BRIDGE - LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
(Note: upper left of photograph shows a section of the New Clay's Ferry Bridge .. {I-75 & US Rt-25})
Old Clay's Ferry Bridge on Old Richmond Road (KY-2326 & Old US-25), approximately 5.5 miles south of Athens, in Fayette County/Madison County, Kentucky. Intersected-Old Richmond Road over the Kentucky River. Construction Date-1869. Structure Length-443'. Main Span Length-217'. Roadway Width-16.4'. Structure Type: Two Span, Metal (Cast Iron) 14 panel Pin-Connected Warren Through Truss, Fixed. Builder/Contractor: Louisville Bridge and Iron Company of Louisville, Kentucky. Engineer/Design: Albert Fink. Rehabilitation Date-1955. Inventory Number-034B00010N. GPS: 37.887150, -84.338440.
"This bridge is one of the most important bridges in Kentucky. Several aspects of this bridge make it nationally significant. First, the bridge was built in 1869, which makes it among the oldest metal bridges on the country. Any metal bridge dating before 1870 is exceedingly rare in North America. The other most significant aspect of this bridge is its use of cast iron for primary structural members, which is one of the rarest features to be found on a historic bridge. Cast Iron truss bridges are one of the rarest types of historic bridge in the country. This bridge uses cast iron for its top chord. Additionally, the struts for this bridge are also cast iron. Finally, the bridge is also significant as a rare example of a pin-connected Warren Truss. Warren trusses usually have riveted connections."
The history of the bridge's use is well documented. Before the bridge was here, a man named Green Clay operated a ferry service here, which accounts for the name of the bridge. The bridge was built in 1869 for the Richmond and Lexington Turnpike. The bridge was purchased by the State of Kentucky in 1929 and became part of US Rt-25 until a larger high level bridge was built to realign US Rt-25 in 1946. Since then, the cast iron truss bridge has carried local traffic only. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1955. At some point, the top of the pier was removed and replaced with concrete. The primary substructure material is stone, although concrete has been used to repair the abutments as well.
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