Bryan Bridge, Steel bridge on Niobrara River in Cherry County, United States.
Bryan Bridge is a steel structure that crosses the Niobrara River with a span of about 289 feet and a roadway width of 24 feet, featuring an arched cantilever truss design that connects at the center with a single pin joint. The bridge's distinctive configuration creates an engineering solution unique to its design class.
The bridge was constructed in 1932 by the State Department of Public Works and named after Governor Charles Wayland Bryan following community input and support. The project represented an important infrastructure addition to the region during that period.
The bridge received recognition from the American Institute of Steel Construction in 1932 as the most beautiful steel bridge in its class, marking a significant achievement for regional engineering at that time. This honor reflected the skill and innovation of the people who designed and built it.
The bridge is located along U.S. Route 20 in Cherry County and continues to serve as an active crossing over the Niobrara River for local traffic. Visitors can access it directly from the road and observe its structural design from multiple vantage points.
Josef Sorkin, a 1929 graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Engineering, designed this as the only bridge of its type in the entire United States. His pioneering structural solution remains a remarkable achievement from that generation of engineers.
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