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Overview from the west |
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Side view of main span |
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Oblique view of main span |
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Northern approach |
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South tower |
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Lower level |
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Counterweights |
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Stone pier |
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Plaque 1910 1911 Missouri River Bridge Built by Union Depot Bridge & Terminal R.R. Co. F.W. Fratt President --- Waddell & Harrington Consulting Engineers Kansas City, Mo. --- Contractors for Superstructure and Erection McClintic Marshall Construction Co. Contractors for Piles American Concrete Co. Contractors for Substructure James O'Connor & Son |
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South portal The following photos were taken from the adjacent Heart of America bridge |
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Main span from east |
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Hoisting system at midspan |
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Kansas City skyline |
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Aerial view with span lowered |
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Aerial view with span raised |
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Aerial view of south approach |
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Aerial view of north approach |
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Upper level |
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Lower level |
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South abutment |
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South approach truss |
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Underneath south approach |
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North approach truss |
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North approach bent |
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North abutment |
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On top of main span |
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South end machinery house |
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Counterweight sheaves |
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Patent plaque Waddell & Harrington Lift Bridge Patented in U.S.A. Aug. 2 1909 Mar. 22 1910 Mar. 29 1910 May 21 1911 Other Patents Pending Patented in Canada February 1 1910 March 9 1910 |
The A.S.B. Bridge is the only one of its type and design ever constructed anywhere else worldwide, this, only because of its lift span. The vertical lift span carries the lower railroad deck, and can allows the hangers from the lower deck to be contracted into the truss members of the upper deck, thus allowing auto traffic to continue on top, even when the lower lever is raised for river traffic.
To answer Kyle, yes and no.
The bridge's old auto deck is being considered for light-rail use, because of its design, the way the lower level can be lifted without stopping traffic on top.
However, light-rail still is very heavy, and with the BNSF railway running heavy-rail below, it may not hold that much.
However, there is a another bridge that is being considered that is not listed on this site, The Second Hannibal Bridge, it is about 400 feet upstream of the A.S.B., and it as well has an abandoned auto deck, but it is a swing bridge, and Kansas City, Missouri thinks that could be a problem, due that both the rail and auto decks would be stopped for river traffic when the span is open, but the A.S.B. would not, as of its lift design.
Another, is the Heart of America bridge, the A.S.B.'s replacement, it is a girder bridge, and it too is not strong enough for light-rail, as it is for automobiles only.
So, the subject is very well open, and the Armour-Swift-Burlington bridge may have the upper deck used again, but, like I said, the heavyness is the problem.
We will all have to wait.
I have heard a rumor that the A.S.B. bridge might be re-habilitated for use with the light rail in kansas city. Is this true or not?
does anyone have any photos of the bridge during the removal of the auto deck?
I would like to see some picutres of it while the upper deck was being removed.
does anyone have any??
This bridge is one of two of its type ever made, and is an honor to have this in my town.
I live on Kansas City, so this is kind of fun to have such a rare bridge in my town.
Below is a recent photo of the bridge, and from the looks of it, i think the bridge got a new paint job in the color Brown.
