View Information About HSR Ratings
The trusses of the only known Milwaukee Bridge and Iron bowstring were placed on display after the bridge was for unclear reasons replaced with a new pedestrian bridge. The bridge has a long history. It was built in an unknown location in ca. 1870. In 1926 it was moved to Lakeside Park to provide pedestrian access to Fountain Island. The bridge at some point had a concrete deck added that encased the lower portion of the truss members. In 2017, after some fuss over the future of the bridge (the city refused to preserve the bridge for pedestrian use in its Fountain Island location), a compromise was reached and the bowstring was replaced with a mundane modern prefab pedestrian truss and the historic bowstring bridge's truss lines were removed and placed at the eastern edge of the park alongside a walkway as a static exhibit. After the concrete was removed from the trusses and the truss lines were repainted it is remarkable how good the condition of the bowstring trusses are, a testiment to the durability of wrought iron. What is a mystery is why the city wouldn't just preserve the bridge in place at Fountain Island. The truss lines that were moved to the exhibit location could simply have been returned to Fountain Island. New floorbeams could have been added to the bridge and a new deck and railing installed. The only good news is the opportunity to find a functional use for the bowstrings remains given that the trusses in exhibit form were not altered from their original design. The floorbeams are missing, but it is questionable that the original floorbeams were even in existence when the 2017 project took place. The trusses could be again moved and reused as a bridge in the future.
Bowstring bridges like this were built in a time when builders were experimenting with metal in bridge design. Each company had its own unique (often patented) design. As such, this bridge being the last surviving example of a bowstring by Milwaukee Bridge and Iron Works, is of high significance as it is the last surviving example of what Milwaukee Bridge's bowstrings looked like.
Above: Photo from city showing bridge before removal.
Above: Photo of the replacement prefab 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.
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.
