Photos
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West Approach Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Allenton Iron Bridge Historical Marker Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Oblique View Looking Northeast Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Southwest Vertical The mark of a bedstead pony truss is the steel plate abutment, not really a good idea against the wet and shifting soil of a riverbank. The vertical end post does not rest on a footing above the water line and extends down into the water, reinforced by a steel plate.
This led the Wisconsin Highway Commission to stop using bedstead trusses. One commissioner reportedly said, "Bedstead trusses are designed to sell, not to serve." Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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The southeast endpost The buckled endposts demonstrate the structural weakness of this design. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Oblique View, Looking Southwest Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Mfg Plaque This bridge is still in its original location. It was the only way for Town of Addison residents, west of the river, to get to the village of Allenton, to the east. The state built a bridge, just to the north, in the 1920's to carry Wis 33. The bridge continued to be used by local traffic until 1973, when the road was closed to vehicles and it became part of Riveredge Park. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Top Chord Joint Detail Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Pinned Joint, just beneath the top chord Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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End post joint detail Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Top chord joint detail, southwest end post Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Southwest end post detail Note the abutment steel plate bent away from the bridge. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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The east approach Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Oblique view, looking northwest Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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The north side Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Northeast end post detail Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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Northeast end post Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
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The bridge in context Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2008 |
Facts
- Overview
- Bedstead pony truss bridge over Rock River on Rock River Drive in Town of Addison
- Location
- Town of Addison, Washington County, Wisconsin
- Status
- Open to pedestrians
- History
- Built 1896; Retired to pedestrian-only use in 1973
- Builder
- - Milwaukee Bridge & Iron Works
- Design
- Single span, pinned connection, metal bedstead pony truss.
- Dimensions
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Total length: 41 ft.
Deck width: 16 ft.
- Recognition
- Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
- Also called
- Allenton Park Bridge
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +43.42018, -88.34623 (decimal degrees)
43°25'13" N, 88°20'46" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/391021/4808356 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Allenton
- Inventory number
- BH 37239 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- February 7, 2009: Updated by J.R. Manning: Fixed a typo in "History" field.
- August 19, 2008: Updated by J.R. Manning
- August 18, 2008: Added by J.R. Manning