Bowstring Truss Bridge, Bowstring arch truss bridge in Ironto, Virginia.
The Bowstring Truss Bridge is a single-span iron arch structure featuring a curved top chord design typical of late 1800s engineering. Its modest dimensions make it easy to study the construction methods and materials that builders used during that era.
The King Bridge Company built this structure in 1878 following devastating floods that destroyed bridges across the region the previous year. It was one of six identical bridges ordered to rebuild the county's crossing infrastructure.
This bridge represents the engineering capabilities of the 19th century American bridge manufacturers, demonstrating the period's advancement in transportation infrastructure.
The bridge sits at the Ironto Rest Area along Interstate 81, making it easy for visitors to stop and view the structure. The location allows for casual examination of the design without requiring special planning or equipment.
Though six identical bridges were ordered, this is the only one that survived to the present day and remains in its original location. It stands as a rare witness to a bridge design that otherwise disappeared completely.
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