The 1938 Amelia Earhart bridge still stood when I published this waymark, but all vehicular traffic on US59 had been rerouted over to the new Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge(the blue arch bridge) nearby. The old bridge was replaced for 2 reasons (1) because it is structurally unsound and (2) is too narrow to accomodate the size of modern 18-wheelers and farm equipment. Source: KDOT (
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Since KDOT has deemed the Amelia Earhart bridge structurally unsafe, we wonder how long it will be before it is removed. Perhaps the city of Atchison will save it as a pedestrian or bike bridge?
From the Bridgehunter website: (
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Overview: Through truss bridge over the Missouri River on US 59 at Atchison
Location: Atchison County, Kansas, and Buchanan County, Missouri
Status: Intact but closed to all traffic
Future prospects: Replaced by a new tied arch bridge on 4 December 2012.
History: Built 1937-38; rehabilitated 1975
Builders- Sverdrup and Parcel- Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Design: Cantilevered Warren through truss
Dimensions:
Length of largest span: 474.0 ft.
Total length: 2,677.4 ft. (0.5 mi.)
Deck width: 23.9 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 15.1 ft.
Inspection (as of 05/2011):
Deck condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Appraisal: Structurally deficient"
When we returned to Atchison KS in 2017, the 1938 Earhart highway truss bridge had been removed.