Halstead Interurban Bridge

Located on the 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 the Little Arkansas River, the bridge consists of five 52-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. This channel is considerably thinner compared to other bridges along this line. The center of these particular arch spans becomes thinner than most similar structures, likely due to the constraints of the shallow valley below. In addition, these thin arches are set onto large concrete piers, giving this bridge an unusual appearance. 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, although appears to be often accessed by people in the community. 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. Much of the soil on the eastern end of the bridge has washed out, exposing the inner bracings of the arch. 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.