View Information About HSR Ratings
This bridge is a pin connected Pratt through truss, and is a two-span structure. Each span is composed of eight panels. The deck is typical of Ohio, with a wooden deck and a layer of asphalt forming the wearing surface. There is v-lacing on the vertical members, and the portal bracing is a lattice design. Original railings do not remain on the bridge, and have been replaced with modern Armco guardrail. The bridge sits on stone abutments and piers, parts of which have been faced with concrete.
This bridge features a number of designs that its builder the Morse Bridge Company did on some of their earlier bridges, and as such is similar to the Six Mile Creek Road Bridge in Michigan. While the top of the portal bracing is quite different (and unusual) on Six Mile Creek Road, the bottom knee brace portions of the portal bracing is the same design. Both bridges also share the similarity in that there is no sway bracing, and only heavy lateral bracing is present overhead between portal braces. They also both share unusual cast iron nut/washer details as well at the pins. The Johnson Slagle Road Bridge is an 1882 bridge
Bridges built by the Morse Bridge Company that survive today, of which there are very few, are noteworthy because some of their bridges, like the Johnson Slagle Road Bridge, displayed several unusual design details. All of their bridges, including the Sulpher Heights Hill Road Bridge which was also in Shelby County were distinguished by ornamental details that varied from bridge to bridge, much moreso than was found in bridges built by other companies during this period. Among the surviving examples that HistoricBridges.org has documented, there is amazing variety in the decorative details. This bridge has an interesting shield-shaped plaque, and the unusual knee bracing.
In 2007, Shelby County with little preamble or notice to the historic bridge community abruptly demolished and replaced this and the Sulpher Heights Hill Road Bridge and with one stroke annihilated a large percentage of surviving Morse Bridge Company Bridges. The loss of these bridges cannot be corrected through any amount of preservation elsewhere, since each Morse Bridge Company bridge was quite unique, and no more exist in the county. Neither of these bridges needed to be replaced, and could likely have been rehabilitated for less than the cost of their replacement. To lose one of these two bridges would have been devastating, but words fail to describe the loss of both of them, in the same year no less. It is hard to fathom how little appreciation one would have for a county's heritage to demolish these bridges.
This historic bridge has been demolished. This map is shown for reference purposes only.
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.
Additional Maps:
Google Streetview (If Available)
GeoHack (Additional Links and Coordinates)
Apple Maps (Via DuckDuckGo Search)
Apple Maps (Apple devices only)
Android: Open Location In Your Map or GPS App
Flickr Gallery (Find Nearby Photos)
Wikimedia Commons (Find Nearby Photos)
Directions Via Sygic For Android
Directions Via Sygic For iOS and Android Dolphin Browser
USGS National Map (United States Only)
Historical USGS Topo Maps (United States Only)
Historic Aerials (United States Only)
CalTopo Maps (United States Only)
© Copyright 2003-2024, HistoricBridges.org. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: HistoricBridges.org is a volunteer group of private citizens. HistoricBridges.org is NOT a government agency, does not represent or work with any governmental agencies, nor is it in any way associated with any government agency or any non-profit organization. While we strive for accuracy in our factual content, HistoricBridges.org offers no guarantee of accuracy. Information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Information could include technical inaccuracies or errors of omission. Opinions and commentary are the opinions of the respective HistoricBridges.org member who made them and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone else, including any outside photographers whose images may appear on the page in which the commentary appears. HistoricBridges.org does not bear any responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of this or any other HistoricBridges.org information. Owners and users of bridges have the responsibility of correctly following all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, regardless of any HistoricBridges.org information.