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.