UP Kansas River Bridge (Kansas City, Middle)

View an article discussing the 1912 reconstruction of this bridge

View an article discussing the 1912 reconstruction of this bridge

Located immediately south of the Interstate 70 bridge, this large truss bridge is the northern of two parallel bridges across the Kansas River at this location. The bridge here was originally built in 1900-01, as Missouri Pacific sought to improve operations between their mainline through Missouri and their mainline to Omaha. The bridge initially consisted of three 180-foot, 7-panel pin-connected Pratt through truss spans, set onto stone substructures. These trusses each utilized built up members, a heavily constructed floor and a unique portal, with four X-frame braces underneath a laced beam. This bridge survived the Flood of 1903, while the parallel Union Pacific bridge was destroyed in that flood, and the wreckage of the bridge and locomotives shoved into this bridge. UP cleaned up some of the wreckage, but left much of the debris in the channel. The bridge was raised 2.5 feet in 1910.

Because the Kansas River had a history of repeated floods, plans were made by the Kaw Valley Drainage District and the War Department to build a series of flood protections along the river. The new requirements included a wider and deeper channel, with the tops of the levees spaced 734 feet apart. Plans to reconstruct this bridge began in 1910, but were delayed due to contract negotiations. Work began on the bridge in September of 1911, starting with construction of the west abutment. The substructure work was contracted to Union Bridge & Contracting Company. Shifting of the superstructure was done by combining the spans into one structure. First the bridge would be raised approximately 9 feet by use of temporary jacks and cribbing, and the approach tracks would be raised. Then the bridge would be shifted transversely to a new alignment, shifting the east end 26 feet upstream, while moving the west end 3 feet. This work was accomplished by use of timber pile piers built immediately upstream of the old piers. Next, the bridge would be moved longitudinally 123 feet to the east. During construction, ice jams suspended work, and the War Department required the installation of a 60 foot deck plate girder span to help ease ice flows. Once the old spans were in place, a 196-foot, 7-panel span of the same design was installed on the west end. This span utilized a slightly different portal design, also with four X-frames.

In approximately 1950, a 22-foot steel stringer span would be installed on the west end of the bridge to accommodate new levees. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, and is heavily used by Union Pacific. No significant deterioration was noted to the bridge at the time of documentation. This bridge continues to be referred to as the Missouri Pacific Bridge. The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the unique history.