Scott Lucas Truss Bridge - Havana, IL
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 40° 17.642 W 090° 04.049
15T E 749260 N 4464519
Named after Scott W Lucas 1892-1968. IL U.S. Senator and WWI veteran.
Waymark Code: WMW1FP
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 06/27/2017
Views: 0
County of bridge: Mason County
Location of birdge: US-136 (W. Dearborn St.), over Illinois River, Havana
Built: 1936; rehabilitated 1998
From the John Weeks Web Site:
• Structure ID: NBI 000063000214984
• Location: River Mile 119.5
• River Elevation: 430 Feet
• Highways: US-136, IL-78, IL-97
• Daily Traffic Count: 5,600 (2005)
• Bridge Type: Steel Truss Through Deck
• Bridge Length: 1,727 Feet, 420 Foot Longest Span
• Bridge Width: 29 Feet, 2 Lanes
• Navigation Channel Width: 315 Feet
• Height Above Water: 70 Feet
• Date Built: Built 1936, Reconstructed 1998
"The Havana Bridge carries US-136 and two state highways across a narrow spot in the Illinois River. The bridge consists of a single large steel truss. Since the bridge has to be high enough to allow boats to travel under the main span, yet the bridge does not have any side spans, the resulting bridge approaches are relatively steep. The bridge is very much like a highway roller-coaster. The effect would be much more pronounced if the speed limit was higher than the posted 35 miles per hour.
"The bridge is named after Scott Wike Lucas, a US Senator from Illinois. Lucas was born in 1892, served in the US Army during WW I, and was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1934. He served in the House until his election to the Senate in 1938. He was reelected to the Senate in 1944, becoming the majority leader in 1948, a post he held for 2 years. Lucas passed away in February of 1968. His grave rests in a cemetery in Havana, Illinois, close to the bridge that carries his name.