Valkommen Trail - Smoky Hill River Bridge

Located in Lindsborg, this through truss bridge carries the Valkommen Trail over the Smoky Hill River. The previous bridge here was likely a wooden truss. In 1902, the present truss span was installed. The truss consists of a single 150-foot quadrangular lattice through truss, with riveted connections, set onto timber pile piers. The bridge was originally approached by timber trestle spans, but these were replaced with steel stringer spans set onto steel pile bents in approximately 1955. An aerial image from 1956 shows the area around the approaches recently graded. There is some uncertainly regarding the history of this bridge. Records from the Union Pacific Railroad Valuation Notes at the National Archives indicate the bridge was a 150-foot pin connected through truss, although "lattice truss" is crossed out. It is possible that there was some confusion regarding the bridge when the record was created, or it is also possible that the truss was moved here at a later time.

While relatively uncommon, the quadrangular lattice truss design was a standard design of the Union Pacific between approximately 1895 and 1905. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, Erie Railroad and Chicago & North Western Railway all used the design in varying capacities, with the lattice truss being the design of choice for the C&NW for over 40 years. The truss utilizes solid and laced members, and arched lattice portal bracings, typical of Union Pacific bridges of this design. This particular portal bracing design was used on many Union Pacific bridges between the 1890s and early 1910s. A number of other examples exist throughout Kansas, primarily along this line between Topeka and Denver. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, and appears well maintained. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.