Hermann Bridge
Photos
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South cantilevered spans |
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Overview |
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North cantilevered spans |
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South end |
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Close-up of deck truss |
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Close-up of tower |
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North portal |
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North span |
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Middle of bridge |
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Behind south portal |
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Remains of Hermann Bridge in Distance Remains of the mostly demolished Hermann Bridge in the distance. Photo taken by David B. Haun |
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Stub of old Truss span Remains of an old truss span attached to the pier. Photo taken by David B. Haun |
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South Approach, View To North Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Southern Approach Spans, View To Northeast Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Spans Three And Four, View To East Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Span Three, View To East Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Spans One, Two And Three, View To Southeast Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Detail Of Pier One Bearing Point, View To Northeast Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Pier One, View To Northwest Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Spans Four And Five, View To East Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Span Detail At Pier Two, View To West Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Spans Four, Five, Six, And Seven, View To Northwest Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Span Detail At Pier Three, View To Northwest Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Spans Six And Seven, View To Northwest Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Overall Bridge View, View To West Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Overall Bridge View, View To Northeast Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Piers Two, Three, And Four, View To Northwest Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Span Detail At Pier Four, View To Northwest Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Pier Four, View To South Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Subdeck At Span Eight, View To North Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Pier Five, View To Northeast Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Span Detail At Pier Five, View To Northeast Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Span Eight, View To Southwest Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Subdeck At Span Nine, View To North Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Fixed Bearing At Bent Four, View To West Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Bent Four, View To Northwest Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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Span Nine, View To West Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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North Approach, View To South Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
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North Approach, View To South Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record |
Facts
- Overview
- Lost cantilevered through truss bridge over the Missouri River on MO 19 at Hermann
- Status
- Replaced by new bridge
- Future prospects
- Scheduled for demolition in 2008
- History
- Built 1930; replacement bridge completed 2007; demolished 2008
- Builders
- - Kansas City Structural Steel Co. (Superstructure)
- L.J. Sverdrup (Design)
- The Foundation Co. (Substructure)
- Design
- Warren through truss
- Dimensions
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Length of largest span: 401.4 ft.
Total length: 2,231.3 ft.
Deck width: 20.0 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 15.0 ft.
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +38.70958, -91.43856 (decimal degrees)
38°42'35" N, 91°26'19" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 15/635762/4285706 (zone/easting/northing)
- Land survey
- T. 46 N., R. 51 W., Sec. 3
- USGS topographic map
- Hermann
- Inventory numbers
- MONBI 5721 (Missouri bridge number on the National Bridge Inventory)
MO K-226A (Missouri off-system bridge number)
BH 21514 (Bridgehunter.com ID) - Inspection (as of 12/2006)
- Deck condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Appraisal: Structurally deficient
Sufficiency rating: 18.2 (out of 100) - Average daily traffic (as of 2005)
- 5,458
Update Log
- September 14, 2008: New photos from James Baughn
- May 28, 2008: New photos from David B. Haun
- May 1, 2008: Updated by David B. Haun: Updated categories, history, NHRP, Status Description
- January 26, 2005: Posted new photos
Sources
- David B. Haun - dbhaun [at] gmail [dot] com
- HAER MO-114 - Hermann Bridge
- James Baughn - webmaster [at] bridgehunter [dot] com
- Missouri Historic Bridge Inventory
Comments
If there's anything quicker than a vulture to a carcass or a personal injury attorney to a tragedy, it's the government to tear down an historic bridge the second a drab, boring new replacement is completed. Just another pathetic example. But this bridge like so many others gone will always exist in my memory, a site untouchable by every engineer, government official and crusty old bureaucrat out there.
Is there any truth about a body in one of the pillars? When they where being poured someone fell in?
The first implosion of the old Hermann bridge took place yesterday on the first span on the North end with additional charges to be set in the near future. Here is a picture from the local paper.
Came across this bridge yesterday returning from a trip. New bridge (approx 20ft west of this one) appears to be near completion. Signs indicated that the new one will be open yet this summer. Sad to see the old one go, it is an impressive piece of work.
I was born in Hermann in 1931 the year after the Hermann
bridge was built. Even though I left Hermann many years ago, visions of that bridge are still etched in my memory.
I truly hate to see it go. Progress is good for some but I
fear for our loss of our heritage and cultural signposts.
A wider bridge will be safer, of course. But will it bring more traffic (probably), and will Hermann start growing
(probably), will Hermann eventually lose its old German
quaintness and charm (probably). I hate to see it go, but my visions of my childhood in that wonderful town will be with me until my own end. What cost progress.