Galena "Y" Bridge YAH - Galena, Mo. - REPLACED
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iconions
N 36° 48.332 W 093° 27.632
15S E 458919 N 4073398
This "You Are Here" map is part of a larger marker describing a very unique bridge over the James River near Galena, Mo.
Waymark Code: WMGWTX
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 04/17/2013
Views: 7
Text of Marker:
THE GALENA "Y" BRIDGE
This magnificent structure was completely formed and poured on this site using sand and gravel from the river below and other materials from the surrounding area. The work began in1926 and was completed and dedicated in November, 1927.
The "Y" configuration was adopted to accommodate the curve in old highway 43, now highway 13, [now - 2008 - MO-413] making it safer to enter and exit both to the north and to the south.
Wagons with teams of horses and mules and many hours of hard manual labor went into this tedious construction. In 1986, after fifty-nine years of faithful service, it was closed to vehicular traffic forever, when a modern, wider bridge was built to the north of it.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in May, 1991.
The bridge remains today, as structurally sound now as when it was built, as a tribute to the hardy crews who put together this engineering marvel of its time.
From the National Register application:
(
visit link)
"The Y Bridge across the James River at Galena in central Stone County served both Missouri state highways 44 and 43. It is on axis with the north side of the square and four blocks east. The bridge itself is of reinforced concrete construction and incorporates 5 principal and 10 secondary spans to carry a deck which is 23 feet wide and which is a total of just under 76 feet long. The abutment on the west end of the bridge and the abutments for each arm of the Y on the east end are all set into steep slopes which descend to the river bottom area in what is a narrow place in the James River valley. The eastern or Y end of the bridge terminates in a restricted area below a bluff just wide enough for the eastern approach spans of the bridge and the roadway which runs perpendicular to the bridge under the face of the bluff. Beyond the west end of the bridge the land rises less steeply, however, the road continuing the axis of the bridge up past the railroad depot to the courthouse square has a considerable grade."
Update: 2018/10/15: The sign has been replaced, no longer containing a map or the You Are Here. It is all historical text with a panoramic historical photo of the bridge.