Stone Arch Bridges

Author: StoneArchBridges

  • Wolf Creek Bridge

    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.

  • 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.

  • Pudden Bridge Demolished

    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.

  • Looking through the 112th Road culvert

    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.

  • Young Street Culvert

    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.

  • 271st Road Plum Creek Branch Bridge

    The Waterway Problem

    Stone arch bridges that are simply too small for the stream being crossed are fairly common. Structures like this require extra maintenance to ensure stability. A good long-term fix is to improve the stone bridge itself.

  • Cedar Township 337th Road Culvert (1)

    Structural Considerations of Low-Rise Arches

    Low-rise arches make for daring designs with minimal “humps” in the road. However, there are certain structural considerations that need to be seriously taken into account when designing a low-rise arch.

  • DIY stone arch culvert

    Pros and Cons of Mortarless Masonry

    Mortarless masonry has several construction advantages over its mortared counterparts. However, with these advantages come a greater precision and skill required for long-term durability.

  • Model Roman arch

    The Middle-Third Rule

    The middle-third rule is a classic rule in masonry design. In this post we explain what this rule is, why it is associated with stability, and how it is derived, as well as its limitations.