Camelback Bridge - Normal, Illinois
Posted by: 
BruceS
Assisted by: 
SecurB
N 40° 29.890 W 088° 59.045
16T E 331871 N 4484942
Historic road bridge built to allow locomotives to pass below in Normal, Illinois.
Waymark Code: WM7Y6V
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 12/21/2009
Views: 5
Created From:
Camelback Bridge - Normal, Illinois - posted by
SecurB
The Camelback Bridge also known as the Bridge No. A797-14 is located on Virgina Avenue (originally Sill Street) between Broadway and Linden Street. The bridge originally spanned the Illinois Central Railroad tracks (now Constitution Trail). When the bridge was built circa 1870 and then replaced in 1904, the bridge had a high hump in the middle to clear the stacks of steam locomotives passing beneath thus the name Camelback. When the bridge was rehabilitation in 2000 the height was reduced to allow easier access for vehicles crossing.
The bridge consists of a 31 foot wood pony truss span with a king post at its center with access ramps on each side which are supported by unusual riveted iron columns. The iron columns called Phoenix columns, are patented design, invented by Samuel Reeve of the Phoenix Iron Co. of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania in 1862. The columns employ flanged arcs of cast or wrought iron riveted together at the joints thus creating a rigid, load bearing column.
The coordinates listed are for the west approach to the bridge. Near these coordinates is a sidewalk leading down to the Constitution Trail where you will get a better view of the bridge along with a historical marker about it.
Street address:
Virginia Ave., across the Constitution Trail
Normal, Illinois
County / Borough / Parish: McLean
Year listed: 1997
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1900 - 1924
Historic function: Transportation - Road-Related
Current function: Transportation - Road-Related
Privately owned?: no
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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