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Upper Bridge

Upper Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth and Rick McOmber

Bridge Documented: April 14, 2011

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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
Liberty Street (River Street) Over Ausable River
Location
Keeseville: Clinton County, New York and Essex County, New York: United States
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1878 By Builder/Contractor: Murray Dougal and Company of Milton, Pennsylvania
Rehabilitation Date
Not Available or Not Applicable
Main Span Length
108.0 Feet (32.9 Meters)
Structure Length
218.0 Feet (66.4 Meters)
Roadway Width
15.3 Feet (4.66 Meters)
Spans
2 Main Span(s)
Inventory Number
Not Applicable

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
View Information About HSR Ratings

Bridge Documentation

View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Documentation For This Bridge

HAER Drawings, PDF - HAER Data Pages, PDF

View Keeseville Village Multiple Resource Area National Register Nomination

View Historic Bridges of the AuSable River Valley National Register Multiple Property Submission

This bridge is an extremely rare example of a bridge built by Murray Dougal and Company of Milton, Pennsylvania. As the advertisement shows, the company specialized mainly in railroad cars and other such equipment, and bridges does not appear to have been a major undertaking by the company. This is unfortunate, since the Upper Bridge is evidence of the beautiful bridges the company could have produced. Another example of a bridge built by this company is a pony truss in Pennsylvania. The pony truss in Pennsylvania shares a number of details with this through truss in Keeseville, New York. William Law, an engineer with the company also worked in Canada with the Central Bridge and Engineering Company, and he took his plaque design with him, and thus similarities in plaque design can be found on his bridges in Canada such as the footbridge in Waterloo.

The Upper Bridge is noted for its beautifully ornate cast iron portal bracing as well as its distinctive decorative finials on the top of the end posts. Structurally, the bridge also has unusual details including cast iron connection assemblies at the top chord / end post connection. Unique cast iron connection assemblies are also present where the overhead lateral bracing ties are attached to the struts. Cast iron details can also be found along the bottom chord at the hip vertical and end post connections. The end post has an unusual design where the cover plate has an arched shape to it.

The bridge is significant as a rare surviving example of a bridge built by a company of whom very little bridges remain, as an early example of a pin-connected Pratt truss bridge, and for its cast iron construction details.

Be sure to view the HAER Data Pages for this bridge, since they contain scans of the original contract for the construction of the bridge.

Above: Aerial view of bridge in August, 2020. Click for enlargement. Photo Credit: Small Town Drone.

Above: Aerial view of bridge in August, 2020. Click for enlargement. Photo Credit: Small Town Drone.

Above: Aerial view of bridge in August, 2020. Click for enlargement. Photo Credit: Small Town Drone.

Above: Aerial view of bridge in August, 2020. Click for enlargement. Photo Credit: Small Town Drone.

Above: Aerial view of bridge in August, 2020. Click for enlargement. Photo Credit: Small Town Drone.

Above: Aerial view of bridge in August, 2020. Click for enlargement. Photo Credit: Small Town Drone.

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Photo Galleries and Videos: Upper Bridge

 

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Structure Overview

Original / Full Size Photos
A collection of overview photos that show the bridge as a whole and general areas of the bridge. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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Structure Details

Original / Full Size Photos
A collection of detail photos that document the parts, construction, and condition of the bridge. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

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View Photo Gallery

Structure Overview

Mobile Optimized Photos
A collection of overview photos that show the bridge as a whole and general areas of the bridge. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

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View Photo Gallery

Structure Details

Mobile Optimized Photos
A collection of detail photos that document the parts, construction, and condition of the bridge. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

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Maps and Links: Upper Bridge

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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