Meirs Road Bridge

Information and Findings From New Jersey's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

Physical Description: The bridge is a 3-panel rivet-connected Warren pony truss. It measures 42'-long and 15.9'-wide, and is composed of standard rolled steel members. The upper chords, lower chords, and diagonals are all composed of riveted steel angles with gusset plates. The flooring system consists of I-beam floor beams, steel stringers reinforced with timber stringers, and a wood plank deck with an asphalt wearing surface. The bridge has outriggers with welded connections at the top chords and floor beams. They appear to be original elements that have been reconnected. The abutments are masonry with concrete repairs. The bridge has been underpinned with three timber pile bents supporting each floor beam. New 4x12 timber stringers have been added. They are deeper than the steel stringers, so the new timber stringers bearing on the floor beams and the abutments are what carry the live loads. The original railings have been removed and replaced with beam guide rails.

Historical and Technological Significance: The ca. 1915 Smith Mill Road Warren pony truss bridge is a standard design of its type with no distinguishing construction details, and it has been altered. While the trusses themselves appear to be complete, the placement of piles to support the floor beams (underpinning) and the addition of timber stringers to carry the deck and live load have functionally changed the span from a truss bridge to a stringer. The original design of the undistinguished bridge has been altered. The county engineer's files offered no records of the Smith Mill Road bridge builder or date of construction nor any plans. The lack of documentation further detracts from its historic value. The bridge's style of construction suggests that it dates from ca. 1915. A 1948 inspection report lists the bridge in "poor condition." It is probable that shortly thereafter the truss was underpinned, a common practice in Monmouth County. In the last forty years the bridge's setting has changed from rural to suburban residential. The bridge is one of four Warren trusses in the county (130MT21, Locust Ave. over Claypit Creek, c.1910, Middletown Twp.; 1300A23, Creamery Road over Yellow Brook, c. 1910, Colts Neck Twp.; 1300U23, Harvey Road over Miry Run, Upper Freehold Twp.). A review of old plans and photographs located in the county engineer's office revealed that Warren pony truss bridges were common in Monmouth County. The multi-span Locust Ave. bridge (130MT21) is the most technologically distinguished of the surviving bridges of this type and design.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The 3-panel rivet-connected Warren pony truss with concrete-capped masonry abutments was underpinned at each floor beam ca. 1950. Timber stringers bearing on the original floor beams have been added, and the bridge now functions as a 3-span stringer rather than a truss bridge. No bridge plans survive at the county engineer's office. An altered example of a well represented bridge type in the area, the undocumented span has no distinguishing details nor historical associations.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No