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UP Moreau River Bridge

Warren Deck Truss Bridge over Moreau River
Osage City, Cole County, Missouri

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name UP Moreau River Bridge
Built By Missouri Pacific Railroad
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 293 Feet Total, 158 Foot Main Span
Width 2 Tracks
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Warren Deck Truss, Deck Girder and Concrete Slab
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1922
Traffic Count 40 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
UP Bridge Number 121.10
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date June 2016


This massive deck truss bridge crosses the Moreau River, near its mouth with the Missouri River. The bridge sits along Algoa Road, between Jefferson City and Osage City.
The bridge was built in 1922, to replace what was likely a similar structure. The current bridge features an 8-panel riveted Warren Deck Truss, approached by a deck girder span on either end and a concrete slab span on the east. The entire bridge sits on concrete substructures.
It is believed that the bridge was built when the nearby Moreau Tunnel was bypassed for a double tracked line.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration.

The author has ranked this structure as moderately significant, due to the newer age of the bridge. However, this is one of the few trusses along this line that has continued to survive.
The photo above is an overview from the east bank. The author hopes to return to this bridge for more photos.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Double tracking of line
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele