Located in the small town of McKittrick, this scenic through truss bridge crosses the Loutre River near Missouri Highway 19.
Built in 1897, the bridge is unique for this line. It consists of a 6-panel pin connected Pratt Through Truss, set onto stone and concrete substructures and approached by trestle spans on the east end.
While there are no other bridges like this along the Katy Trail, the design was very common along other MKT routes. A&P Roberts/Pencoyd Iron Works fabricated this bridge, as well as other identical spans in Texas and one in Kansas.
In addition, an identical bridge once existed at Rocheport, although it was destroyed by a derailment. This style bridge features a unique crested portal and lightweight members.
Fortunately, the bridge appears to be in excellent condition, with no major deterioration noted. The author hopes that this bridge will continue to serve pedestrians for years to come.
The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the unique design for the Katy Trail.
The photo above is looking west across the bridge. The author hopes to return to this location in the winter for better photos.