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This attractive bridge is an excellent example of a bridge built by the King Bridge Company. Its combination design, featuring a through and pony truss span allows not only for a technological comparison of two types of truss bridge, but also for a comparison between bridge products offered by the prominent King Bridge Company. The through truss span features a decorative portal bracing knee including star cutouts... a distinctive detail of its builder. The use of lacing instead of cover plate on the end post and top chord is unusual, however. In contrast, the pony truss span uses cover plate for these parts. Another oddity is that the floor beams on the through truss span have been replaced, while the floor beams on the pony truss are original. The original floor beams are attractive built-up fishbelly style floor beams.
Sadly, this bridge suffers from severe deterioration in the form of widespread areas of complete section loss. Plate and angle on the bridge are particularly hard-hit, including around the top chord connections, which is unusual since the worst deterioration on a truss bridge is usually in the "splash zone" around the bottom chord. Moreover, the fact that this bridge is not near where winter deicing salt would be used makes the deterioration even more unusual. It seems likely that the deteriorated elements are steel rather than wrought iron. Wrought iron is resistant to corrosion in the absence of paint, but steel is much less so.
The road leading to this bridge is completely unimproved, composed of large boulders, and must be driven with great care. Anyone without familiarity with this road and area (and West Virginia in general) is recommended to utilize a vehicle with decent ground clearance and only attempt to access the bridge when the road is dry. The road is composed of large boulders and a car driving the road must be driven at the speed of a slow walk, and the sensation to the driver will be that of being in a boat on rough waters. Approach this bridge from the south.
This bridge is tagged with the following special condition(s): Unorganized Photos
The road leading to this bridge is completely unimproved, composed of large boulders, and must be driven with great care.
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