State Highway 78 Bridge at the Red River

The Highway 78 Bridge at the Red River is an eight-span through truss bridge[2] over the Red River between Oklahoma and Texas on Oklahoma State Highway 78/Texas State Highway 78. It was built as a federal relief project during the Great Depression as part of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. Today the bridge and the area retain the look and feel of the time of its construction. As part of Highway 78 the bridge's average daily traffic (as of 2006) was 1,700 cars per day.[2]

State Highway 78 Bridge at the Red River
State Highway 78 Bridge
State Highway 78 Bridge at the Red River
State Highway 78 Bridge at the Red River
State Highway 78 Bridge at the Red River
LocationBetween Texas State Highway 78 and Oklahoma State Highway 78 over Red River
Nearest cityRavenna, Texas,
Yuba, Oklahoma
Coordinates33°45′10″N 96°11′45″W
Area1.2 acres (0.49 ha)
Built1937 (1937)
Built byIllinois Steel Bridge Company, et al
ArchitectOklahoma Highway Commission
Architectural styleK-truss through bridge
MPSHistoric Bridges of Texas MPS
NRHP reference No.96001517[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 20, 1996

History

The State Highway 78 Bridge at the Red River replaced a suspension bridge that collapsed on January 15, 1934. The former bridge had been opened as a toll bridge in July 1927. It was purchased by Oklahoma and Texas for use as a free bridge.[3] It collapsed in a storm after the swinging bridge's wire cables became twisted and snapped.[3]

As a Federal Relief Project[4] funded by the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933[3] construction began on February 16, 1937.[3] It was completed in 1938.

The bridge marks the location of Sowell's Bluff.

Architecture

The Oklahoma Highway Commission designed the bridge. Constructed in 1937-1938 by the Kansas City Bridge Co. of Kansas City, Missouri.[2][3] the bridge is designed as a rare example of a K-Parker through truss bridge with camelback pony spans.[2][4] The bridge consists of eight riveted K-truss through spans with two camelback pony truss spans at each end.[3]

The Illinois Steel Bridge Company of Jacksonville, Illinois was subcontracted to fabricate the trusses.

See also

Overview
  • Length of largest span: 210.0 ft.
  • Total length: 2,108.0 ft.
  • Deck width: 24.0 ft.
  • Vertical clearance above deck: 15.9 ft.[2]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. Baughn, James (October 27, 2008). "Red River OK 78 Bridge". Historic Bridges of the U.S. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
  3. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form - State Highway 78 Bridge at the Red River" (PDF). United States Department of the Interior. September 6, 1996. Retrieved March 28, 2009. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. "STATE HIGHWAY #78 BRIDGE AT THE RED RIVER". National Register Properties in Oklahoma. Retrieved March 28, 2009.


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