Photos
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Overview of the old bridge This was taken April 2002. Within a year, none of the bridge remained. |
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Deck during flooding In March 2002, Castor River flooded but did not damage the old bridge |
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Approach covered with water Ironically, the bridge was high and dry during the flood but the northern approach was nearly impassible. |
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On the old bridge Your webmaster poses on the bridge in April 2002, not knowing that the bridge was about to have an unfortunate encounter with a bulldozer. |
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Construction begins By March 2003 the bridge was gone and a temporary low-water crossing was installed. |
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Remaining artifacts A pinned joint, a girder, and some other scraps remained from the old bridge. |
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Piers built May 2003 By May 2003 the piers were under construction. |
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Main span in September 2003 A few months later the bridge was largely completed. |
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Deck view September 2003 |
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View of finished bridge This was taken March 2004, but the bridge had been open already for several months. |
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View of finished deck |
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New plaque The south end of the new bridge features a builder's plaque |
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Remnants of wooden deck A section of wooden deck from the old bridge still sits downstream on the south bank |
Facts
- Overview
- Lost through truss bridge over Castor River north of Gipsy on CR 736
- Location
- Bollinger County, Missouri
- Status
- Demolished in Summer 2002 and replaced with a boring concrete bridge
- History
- Built 1911-12 at Greenbrier (?); relocated here in 1927
- Builders
- - Missouri Bridge & Iron Co. of St. Louis, Missouri (Relocation and approaches)
- Stupp Brothers Bridge & Iron Co. of St. Louis, Missouri (Main span)
- Design
- Southern span: Pin-connected, 7-panel Pratt through truss
Northern span: Pin-connected, half-hip Pratt pony truss
- Dimensions
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Length of largest span: 111.8 ft.
Total length: 222.1 ft.
Deck width: 11.5 ft.
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +37.15745, -90.18246 (decimal degrees)
37°09'27" N, 90°10'57" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 15/750203/4116056 (zone/easting/northing)
- Land survey
- T. 28 N., R. 8 E., Sec. 28
- Elevation
- 398 ft. above sea level
- USGS topographic map
- Gipsy
- Inventory number
- BH 20876 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Comments
My family ran the campground at Gipsy Bridge Park back in the 70's and I have many fond memories from there. I remember the bridge used to terrify me when I learned to drive & had to navigate across it in a Chevy Impala, but I soon conquered that fear! I miss the "Big Bridge" as we used to call it. (There was a smaller one about 1/2 mile up the road we called the "little bridge") It had great personality & character. The new bridge that replaced it may be stronger, but it's just not the same.
Camping at Gipsy was great! Every summer when I was a kid, my whole extended family got together for a week of fun and togetherness. I have begun searching for another spot like the Gipsy bridge campground so that all of my cousins and I can keep the tradition going with our kids, but no luck so far. So much for progress...
I remember camping at the old Gypsy Bridge Campground as a child/teenager. (in the 1970's) There was a square dance stage set up there, and on one side of the bridge there was a small trail that led up to a gorgeous overview of the river.
Thanks for letting me see that fine old bridge one last time!
John