Marker Text:
Left Side:
Jefferson Avenue Footbridge
Built in 1902 by the American Bridge Company of Patterson, PA
for $8,200, the cantilevered warren through truss design spans 12
working railway lines. Local engineer J.W. Hoover was in charge
of the construction. Mrs. Allie Moore, the first person to cross
the new bridge on August 29, 1902. The 562 foot structure is one
of the oldest and longest footbridges in the United States still in
use serving railway facilities.
The footbridge was placed on Springfield's Local Historic
Register on December 10, 1973 and listed on the national Register
of Historic Places on September 2, 2003. In the 1990's it was sold
by BNSF railways to the City of Springfield for the amount of $1.
In 2001 rehabilitation began to preserve this historic
landmark. Funding for the restoration was secured from the
City of Springfield, the Missouri Department of Transportation,
Community Development Block Grants, and memorial paver
sales by the Commercial Club of Springfield. In addition to the
footbridge restoration, a community plaza was
created around the southern stairway
at Jefferson Avenue.
The rehabilitation work
cost just over $518,000, and was completed
almost 100 years after the original footbridge was
constructed. On April 17, 2002, during a centennial celebration,
the footbridge was rededicated and once again opened to the
public.
Right Side:
A View for Years to Come
On March 1, 2016 -- due to decay found during a routine
inspection, the footbridge was closed to the public once again.
The city conducted a full evaluation and worked with the
community to determine repair and renovation options. Federal
and local funding in the for of Surface Transportation Block
Grants, a twenty percent match from local sources, and funds
raised by the Commercial Club of Springfield have been secured
to pay for the expected $2.5 million dollar rehabilitation.
Upon reopening, The Jefferson Avenue Footbridge will be
handicap accessible and its spectacular views will be truly
available to all. Rehabilitation work is set to begin in 2020
during the 150th Anniversary of the Commercial Street Historic
District. The Springfield community looks forward to the day.
this magnificent historic structure will be open to the public.
once again and can be enjoyed by future generations.
Jefferson Avenue Footbridge Information:
The Jefferson Street Footbridge, Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, is a three-span steel cantilever through truss footbridge, and the first of its kind known to be built in Missouri. The bridge, originally spanning sixteen railroad tracks of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad, is oriented in a north-south line, beginning north of the head of Jefferson Avenue (named Jefferson Street at the time of construction), where it intersects Commercial Street, and continues north over the rail-road tracks to Chase Street and the adjacent residential area. The bridge is approximately 562 feet in length, including an 80 foot long south approach (but excluding entry stairs). The bridge's two towers rise about 50 ft. above grade. The steel substructure is 25 ft. above grade, is supported on concrete piers, and has a six-foot wide wooden walking deck. The footbridge is constructed with through truss system with Warren webbing. The American Bridge Company of Pennsylvania constructed the bridge in 1902. The Construction Engineer was J. W. Hoover of Kansas City, Missouri. While the bridge has sustained some changes, such as the removal of the bicycle ramps and restoration in recent years, it maintains its integrity of material, association, setting, and function.
The overall look and decorative features of the footbridge give it the appearance of a suspension bridge. There are two tall piers connected by trusses whose upper cords were built in catenary curves. However, the bridge is made of rigid materials is structurally a cantilever bridge. The principal bridge spans rest on four sets of concrete footings. The footings are narrow, designed to fit between adjoining sets of railroad tracks. The piers are narrow in order to accommodate trains passing between them. The 80 foot-long approach ramp between the south entry stair and the bridge rests on the first bridge pier and on a series of smaller footers along the approaches length. The north entry stair and the short north approach are supported on a series of verticals and diagonals also resting on square concrete footers. The stairs on either end of the bridge, which years ago replaced the bicycle ramps, are constructed of steel C-channels filled with concrete.
The bridge was built using a though truss system with Warren webbing. The diagonals in Warren webbing act as both tension and compression. This web of diagonals allows for a very rigid and stable truss since Warren webbed trusses can be cantilevered into space with support only at one end.
- National Register Application