Rock Island Bridge (Kaw River Bridge)

Two single-track through pin-connected spans, each 302 ft 0-in c-c. Weight 1,024.5 tons. In 1905, the Rock Island hired the American Bridge Company of New York to build the new Kaw River Bridge at an estimated cost of $170,000 ($4.5 million in 2017 dollars). The new structure contained two Pennsylvania-style steel trusses, a design commonly used for both railroad and vehicular bridges during the early twentieth century. Pennsylvania trusses are distinguished by a camel-back profile, and reinforcement with 6 full-length and 6 half-length pinconnected struts along each face. Each approach is framed by an ascending arch tied together at the top by a series of pin-connected plates. The new span was originally set at an elevation two feet higher than its predecessor. The temporary wood pile bridge served as a falsework for the new steel superstructure. The concrete foundations for each of the bridge abutments were set forty feet below the riverbed.