County Line Bowstring, Metal road bridge in Cloud and Republic Counties, Kansas.
County Line Bowstring is a metal road bridge spanning West Creek with a bowstring truss design and wooden deck. The structure measures approximately 80 feet (24 meters) long and 16 feet (5 meters) wide, connecting areas along the border between Cloud and Republic Counties.
This bridge was built in 1876 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Ohio and was originally one of four spans in the Concordia bridge system. The structure survived over time and remained in place while other parts of the original system were removed or altered.
This bridge emerged during a period of rapid infrastructure expansion across rural Kansas, when metal spans connected farming communities separated by water. It became part of the everyday landscape for residents who relied on it to access their lands and maintain local connections.
The bridge is accessible via a county maintenance road and accommodates single-lane automobile traffic for visitors exploring the area. Those approaching should keep in mind this is a functioning infrastructure piece and treat it with appropriate care during any visit.
The structure preserves its original bowstring truss design from the late 1800s, representing a relatively uncommon engineering approach in the region today. This bridge type was innovative for its time and allowed engineers to span water obstacles efficiently before being superseded by later construction methods.
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