Sutliff Bridge, Historic truss bridge in Johnson County, Iowa
Sutliff Bridge is a historic truss bridge spanning the Cedar River with three sections built using a Pin-Connected Parker Through Truss design and measuring 15 feet in width. The structure displays the distinctive latticed ironwork typical of bridges from the late 1890s, with steel members arranged to distribute weight across its spans.
The bridge was built between 1897 and 1898 by J.R. Sheely and Company, replacing a ferry service that had crossed the Cedar River since 1838. Its completion transformed local transportation and marked the arrival of modern engineering in the region.
The structure served as a critical connection point for communities separated by the Cedar River, reshaping how people moved and traded with one another. Walking across it today, visitors can sense the importance this crossing held for the local area's development and communication.
The bridge now functions as a pedestrian walkway connected to a public park, making it easy to access on foot from the surrounding area. The route is well-maintained and offers clear views of the Cedar River from various points along the crossing.
The structure represents an early application of the Pin-Connected Parker Truss design, a specialized engineering technique that was not widely adopted across America. Its ability to withstand both regular use and the powerful 2008 flood demonstrates how effectively this particular method distributed forces through the bridge.
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