Stone Arch Bridges

Widening a Stone Arch Bridge

While many historic stone arch bridges are too narrow by modern traffic standards, there are several viable ways to non-destructively widen them.

In 1913, C. C. Jamison built an affordable and durable double-arch stone bridge over Turkey Creek, Butler County, Kansas which is still in use today.

The second phase of the state of Kansas’s stone arch bridge era was marked by a slow but steady trend to concrete until the WPA days.

Using the state’s abundant native stone, Kansas built many stone arch bridges as an enduring and affordable means of bridging the streams.

Using solid backing material behind the arch of a stone arch bridge is a sure way to increase the structure’s durability.

The weakest point of a stone arch bridge of limestone is the waterline masonry, for it is prone to disintegrating in water.

The 1901 Polecat Creek Bridge is the only stone arch bridge on the NRHP in Butler County, Kansas, and its historic appearance is well maintained.

At the end of the unparalleled stone arch bridge and culvert campaign of Butler County, Kansas, hundreds of such structures had been built.

The success of Butler County, Kansas in building stone arch bridges influenced other counties across the state as well as builders like Walter Sharp.

After a persistent and unified push by the local newspapers, Butler County began to build stone arch bridges and culverts.