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| Name | West Emma Creek Interurban Bridge Arkansas Valley Interurban Railway West Emma Creek Bridge |
| Built By | Arkansas Valley Interurban Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Private Owner |
| Superstructure Contractor | Interurban Construction Company of Wichita, Kansas |
| Length | 170 Feet Total, 56 Foot Spans |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Closed Spandrel Concrete Arch |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1911 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned) |
| Current Status | Abandoned |
| Significance | Moderate Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/29/2017 |
In 1910, the Arkansas Valley Interurban Railway built a line between Wichita, Kansas and Newton, Kansas. The line would be extended between Van Arsdale, Kansas and Halstead, Kansas in 1911 and to Hutchinson in 1915. The route offered service to Wichita from areas to the north and northwest of Wichita. Unfortunately, the onset of World War II took a toll on the railroad, as transportation habits began to change. Operations ceased over the entire system in 1938, and the remaining equipment was removed for scrap in 1942. Today, several remains of the railroad, including bridges and buildings, can be found throughout the area.
Located along 36th Street east of Halstead, this concrete arch bridge is one of a number of remaining bridges from the Arkansas Valley Interurban in the area. Built in 1911 to cross West Emma Creek, the bridge consists of three 56-foot closed spandrel concrete arch spans, set onto concrete pile substructures. The deck of the bridge utilizes a channel design to hold in soil and ballast. The center of these particular arch spans becomes thinner than most similar structures, likely due to the constraints of the shallow valley below. It is believed these bridges were original to the line in 1911, although further research into the bridges is ongoing. This design of bridge was commonly used by interurban railroads throughout the United States, as it provided a cost effective, strong and attractive bridge. This bridge is now abandoned and on private property, although the bridge can easily be viewed from the parallel road. Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. In particular, the bridge does not show signs of typical defects seen on concrete bridges of this era. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the fact that this is a well preserved example of an interurban bridge in Kansas.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Wichita Eagle; December 20, 1911 |