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 Ridgeview Railroad Bridge - Olathe, Ks. Posted by:  iconions
N 38° 53.239 W 094° 47.836
15S E 344119 N 4305807
This Railroad Bridge is over Ridgeview Road halfway between Kansas City Road and Santa Fe in Olathe, Kansas.
Waymark Code: WMVYQT
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 06/11/2017
Views: 0
This Railroad Bridge is over Ridgeview Road halfway between Kansas City Road and Santa Fe. Before the railroad bridge was built in the mid 2000's, a train would pass through approximately every 10 minutes. This would cause large backups, especially during rush hour. A project called "Raise the Rail" created the bridge over Ridgeview (as well as three others). The silhouette art for the bridge features a scene of oxen pulling carts along the Santa Fe Trail, appropriate since Kansas City Road is an original portion of the Santa Fe Trail.
Ridgeview Railroad Bridge
Artist: Herd, Stan, sculptor.
Dates: Dedicated April 11, 2008
Medium: Cor-Ten steel
Dimensions: Sculpture: approx. 8 ft. x 235 ft. x 1 ft.
Description: Scenes of pioneers and settlers in silhouette along the sides of the bridge over South Ridgeview Road.
Subject: History -- United States -- Westward Expansion
Figure group
Animal -- Horse
Architecture -- Vehicle -- Wagon
Travel -- Land
Object Type: Outdoor Sculpture -- Kansas -- Olathe
Owner: Administered by City of Olathe, Parks and Recreation, 200 West Santa Fe Street, Olathe, Kansas 66061
Located Ridgeview Road Railroad Bridge, 480 South Ridgeview Road, Olathe, Kansas 66061
References: Kansas City Adopt A Monument, 2014.
Control Number: IAS 74870120
- Smithsonian Outdoor Sculptures Website
Location: S Ridgeview Road, between E Santa Fe Street and E Kansas City Road, Olathe, KS
Owner: City of Olathe (sculptures), BNSF (bridge)
Artist: Stan Herd (artist); Ochsner, Hare & Hare (bridge enhancement designers)
Dates: Dedicated April 11, 2008
Medium: Steel
Description:
In the mid-2000s, the City of Olathe and BNSF Railroad collaborated on the Olathe Rail Grade Separation project, also known as "Raise the Rail." This project was put in place in order to separate vehicular traffic from railroad traffic. Vehicular traffic was on the increase in Olathe, particularly between downtown Olathe and Interstate 35, and major backups would be caused when a train passed through town. The solution was to elevate the tracks above street grade, hence "Raise the Rail." A total of four railroad bridges were built as part of the project. The bridge that passed over Ridgeview Road, north of Santa Fe Street, was given an extra design element.
Renown artist Stan Herd, in association with the design firm Ochsner, Hare & Hare, designed the bridge rails for the bridge over Ridgeview Road. The rails are made out of the same type of steel as the bridge girders. They depict scenes of settlers, pioneers and environments that one might have found in this location during the days of westward expansion. Each rail is approximately 8 feet tall and 235 feet long. They honor Olathe's past while providing a decorative element to what could have been another "generic" railroad bridge.
- KC Fountains Website
TITLE: Ridgeview Railroad Bridge
ARTIST(S): Herd, Stan
DATE: Dedicated April 11, 2008
MEDIUM: Cor-Ten steel
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 74870120
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
over Ridgeview Road halfway between Kansas City Road and Santa Fe - 480 South Ridgeview Road
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
None seen. Sculpture is in good repair.
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