Stone Arch Bridges
Architecture standing the test of time.
Stone Arch Bridges of Butler County, KS
A list of the known stone arch bridges carrying roads in Butler County, Kansas, showing where possible for each structure a picture, the date and builder.
Stone Arch Bridges of Cowley County, KS
A list of the known stone arch bridges on the roads of Cowley County, Kansas showing where possible for each structure a picture, the date and builder.
Books
Walter Sharp: A Story of Stone Arch Bridges, the Good Roads Movement, and Decentralized Infrastructure is a book composed of newspaper articles written by, about and interviewing Walter Sharp, who is famous for his work in stone arch bridges in Kansas. Read what makes his work and writing significant!
The Latest
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A Novel Tool: The Bushing Hammer
The bushing hammer is a specialized masonry tool that is especially useful if working with limestone. Due to its unique design, the bushing hammer is used to smooth surfaces.
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Ashlar-Faced Rubble
One type of construction often seen in high-end stonework is ashlar-faced rubble masonry. In this type of work, a strong facing of tight-fitting ashlar protects a core made of looser rubble masonry, allowing cost savings.
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A Newer Generation of Stone Culverts
Over the course of our research, it came to our attention that there were in several places multiple eras of stone bridge construction: the stereotypical early 1900s work, and then a later style that relied heavily on cement mortars.
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The Low-Cost Stone Bridges of the Early 1900s
A hallmark of US stone bridges and culverts built for the public roads during the early 1900s is their low-cost design. As a result, these structures tend to feature several shortcuts leading to maintenance issues.
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The Timeless Stone Arch Bridge
The stone arch bridge remains a form of construction that has never been equaled. Here are some considerations in favor of stone bridges even with modern advances in structures and materials.
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Announcing a New Book of Walter Sharp’s Writings
We have released a new book composed of Walter Sharp’s writing. In this book, learn about the history of the Good Roads Movement, the story of Cowley’s stone bridges, and more in the words of Sharp himself.
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Cowley Demolishes Pudden Bridge
Cowley County has recently demolished the well-known triple-arch stone bridge known as Pudden/Esch’s Spur/Kirk Bridge. This historic bridge was a landmark structure in the area and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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The Width Problem
A narrow stone arch bridge need not be replaced for functional reasons. There are numerous options for widening whereby the historic original is preserved and the road improved for less cost than a full-fledged replacement would be.
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The Impact Problem
Stone bridges are particularly vulnerable to impacts by traffic, as the individual stones are easily dislodged. In this post, we investigate ways to prevent this type of damage from happening.
Stone Arch Bridges 