Mosby Interurban Bridge

Located in the small town of Mosby, this concrete arch bridge once carried the KCCC&StJ over the Fishing River. Designed by Robert P Woods and built by the Wyandotte Construction Company, the bridge was built in 1911, and opened to traffic in 1913. It consists of three 60-foot Luten concrete arch spans, set onto concrete substructures. The Luten design was extensively used throughout the KCCC&StJ, with over 100 examples constructed. This design utilized additional reinforcements to laterally reinforce the bridge, reducing the overall volume of concrete required. The design was patented by Daniel B Luten, an American bridge engineer. The Luten design was utilized extensively for interurban bridges and roadway bridges in the early 20th Century. A handful of examples continue to exist along the former KCCC&StJ right-of-way. After the KCCC&StJ was abandoned, the bridge and adjacent right-of-way were purchased by Mosby and converted to roadway use, serving Main Street/122nd Street. During the conversion, the tracks and ballast were removed from the bridge, and an asphalt surface constructed. It also appears that the decorative lattice railings were added at this time. The bridge was closed to traffic in 2017, after defects were found in the bridge. The bridge now closed to traffic, and effectively abandoned. Fortunately, this bridge has been left intact, as several other KCCC&StJ bridges were demolished during the 1990s and 2000s. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition, with significant spalling throughout the structure, particularly at the piers. It also appears that the westernmost span has begun to sink. The author has ranked the bridge as being regionally significant, as it is a well preserved example of an interurban bridge in the area.