Tuesday, July 14, 2026
HISTORIC STEEL TRUSS BRIDGES IN THE UNITED STATES (104)
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".
BIG RUN ROAD BRIDGE - GAMBIER, OHIO
Big Run Road Bridge on Big Run Road about one mile S/E of Gambier, in Knox County, Ohio off of Ohio Rt. 229. Intersected-Big Run Road. (Old Alignment) over Kokosing River. Construction Date-1915. Structure Length-194'. Main Span Length-190'. Structure Type: One Span, Metal 10 Panel Rivet-Connected Polygonal Warren Through Truss, Fixed. Builder/Contractor: Unknown. Rehabilitation Date-2010. Inventory Number-4232828. GPS: 40.357680, -82.385040.
Note: This bridge was bypassed and abandoned in 1994. It sat abandoned until 2010 when it was rehabilitated for pedestrian use. Sadly, during the rehabilitation, although the preservation of the bridge is a great outcome, it had shortcomings that could have been avoided, and still met the requirements of the crossing. Modern steel bolts were used instead of historically correct rivets. There was a very large amount of rivets replaced during the rehabilitation, so now it no longer looks like the original all riveted historical bridge. Now when viewing the bridge all you see are the mass amount of bolts; rivets are not only historically accurate, they are simply more pleasing to the eye. During rehabilitation, this bridge was hot dip galvanized.