logo

KCS Prospect Avenue Bridge

Through Girder Bridge over Prospect Avenue
Near Belton, Cass County, Missouri

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name KCS Prospect Avenue Bridge
Built By Kansas City Southern Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Kansas City Southern Railway
Length 210 Feet Total, 60 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through and Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete and Steel Tower
Date Built Ca. 1900
Traffic Count 12 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date February 2017


This large girder bridge crosses Prospect Avenue near a former Air Force Base.
The bridge was built in approximately 1900 to cross the Kansas City, Clinton & Springfield Railway. This railroad would be abandoned in 1934, and the route underneath would be used for a road.
Consisting of only a single track, a modern bridge would be added parallel to this structure in 2000. This page consists of only the historic span.
The historic span is built of a pair of large through girder spans, approached by deck girder spans. Unique enough, the southern of the through girder spans rests on a large steel tower.
In addition, the approaches rest on more typical steel bents. The entire bridge sits on concrete substructures.

Overall, the bridge appears to be in decent condition. The bridge sits at the south end of a large intermodal facility and has a high level of security.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the insignificant design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Estimated
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele