NRHP Reference # 00000637 Added to NRHP 9 June 2000 | Built 1925 Opened 1925 | |
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Architectural style Two pin-connected, 8-panel Parker through trusses MPS Historic Bridges of Arkansas MPS | ||
Woolsey Bridge (NRHP listed as Washington County Road 35 Bridge) is a truss bridge built in 1925 located near West Fork, Arkansas. It carries County Route 35 over the West Fork of the White River for 303.0 feet (92.4 m). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History
The bridge is historic as the only surviving bridge in the area built in the camelback style. Engineered in a distinct way, the camelback truss is uncommon and this well-preserved example was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 9, 2000.
Design
Bridge designers and engineers of the early 20th century had seen the Pratt truss prove itself as a durable and economically feasible bridge. The Woolsey Bridge was designed as a camelback-through truss design. The camelback is a modification of the Pratt truss by Charles H. Parker which features a top chord that is not parallel to the bottom chord. Although stronger in the center than parallel bridges, the style is less common due to its complexity. The Woolsey Bridge was likely built by a county workforce in 1925, possibly consisting of area residents.
Status
The bridge was closed to traffic of all kinds in January, 2015. It is slated to be replaced in 2015 or 2016.