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| Name | Katy Trail - Middle River Bridge |
| Built By | Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Missouri State Parks |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Length | 150 Feet Total, 120 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Warren Through Truss and Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1926 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Significance | Moderate Significance |
| Documentation Date | 6/17/2016 |
In 1872, the Tebo and Neosho Railroad Company (T&N) constructed 72 miles of new railroad line, extending from Sedalia, Missouri to Moberly, Missouri. The new line crossed the Missouri River at Boonville, using an impressive iron bridge. The T&N would be acquired by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway (MKT) in 1873. By the late 1880s, the MKT desired to enter the St. Louis area, and the Cleveland, St. Louis & Kansas City Railway began construction on 162 miles of new railroad, extending from New Franklin, Missouri to St. Charles/Machens, Missouri in 1890. The railroad would be completed by the Missouri, Kansas & Eastern Railway in 1893, and the railroad merged into the MKT in 1896. In 1899, the Missouri Midland Railway would complete a 13-mile branch line, extending from the mainline at McBaine, Missouri to Columbia, Missouri. The branch line was sold to the MKT in 1901. This railroad formed the eastern portion of the principal mainline for the MKT, connecting St. Louis to the MKT system which had greatly expanded into Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas during the 1880s. In 1923, the MKT reorganized as the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. In 1975, the line between Fayette and Moberly would be abandoned, and the New Franklin to Fayette segment would be abandoned in 1978. The Columbia line would be abandoned in 1980, and converted to a trail in 1982. Due to the proximity to the Missouri River, the line was prone to washouts. A severe flood in 1986 damaged the line, and it was decided to not repair the line. In 1988, the MKT was merged into Union
Pacific Railroad (UP), and UP would donate the line to Missouri State Parks. The line was then converted to trail use, opening between Machens and Sedalia in 1993. Today, the Machens to Sedalia segment is part of the Katy Trail, while the Columbia branch is known as the MKT Nature Trail.
Located east of Tebbetts, this Warren through truss bridge carries the Katy Trail over the Middle River. The first bridge at this location was likely a light iron truss bridge, constructed in 1892, when the line was built. In 1926, the bridge would be replaced by the current bridge. The bridge consists of a 120-foot, 6-panel riveted Warren through truss, set onto concrete substructures. The truss span is approached by a deck plate girder span on the east end. The truss span utilizes a lattice portal and a combination of solid and laced members, typical of Katy truss spans during this era. A plaque on the bridge indicates the bridge was constructed by American Bridge Company, which received contracts for the 1926 bridge program from the MKT. The Warren design became the dominant truss bridge design during the 20th Century, as it provided strength, durability and a simple design. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The bridge has since been converted to the Katy Trail, and is one of several such spans with this design along the trail. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | American Bridge Company plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |