So how do you restore a stone arch bridge? In Part 1, using Pudden Bridge (Esch’s Spur Bridge) in Cowley County, Kansas, as our hypothetical example, we concluded that the partial demise of this massive structure’s middle arch was likely caused by breaking stones and deteriorating mortar joints. So now we will use this informationContinue reading “Stone Arch Bridge Restoration and Pudden Bridge: Part 2”
Tag Archives: Esch’s Spur Bridge
Stone Arch Bridge Restoration and Pudden Bridge: Part 1
Restoring a stone arch bridge can sometimes be something of a challenge. Often the results are worth the effort. Restoring a stone arch bridge may even cost less than replacing the bridge. The question is how do you restore a badly damaged bridge? Pudden Bridge Example Let’s look at Pudden Bridge as an exampleContinue reading “Stone Arch Bridge Restoration and Pudden Bridge: Part 1”
The Weak Point of an Arch: The Arch Faces
The arch faces are the most vulnerable point of a stone arch bridge. The upstream faces in particular are more easily damaged, as they are exposed to impacts from debris. Why the Facing Stones of the Arch are Vulnerable The individual arch stones in the arch faces tend to twist out of the arch surprisinglyContinue reading “The Weak Point of an Arch: The Arch Faces”
Pudden Bridge (Esch’s Spur Bridge): History and Heritage
After extensive research, we are now releasing for the public An Illustrated History of Esch’s Spur Bridge — the large triple-arch stone bridge near Dexter in Cowley County, Kansas. This bridge is also known as Kirk or Pudden Bridge. We have taken the time to research and write out a detailed and illustrated history ofContinue reading “Pudden Bridge (Esch’s Spur Bridge): History and Heritage”
Multi-Span Arch Bridges
Multiple-span arch bridges are not necessarily several arch bridges back to back. The cause is quite simple; flatter arches need good, solid abutments to resist the horizontal thrust of the arch, and, unless one is willing to greatly constrict the waterway being spanned, any piers must be much thinner than a good abutment should be.Continue reading “Multi-Span Arch Bridges”
On the Stone Arch Bridges of Cowley County, Kansas
Cowley County, Kansas, boasts of being the stone arch bridge capital of the state. With 18 stone arch bridges listed on the county’s stone arch bridge brochure, these old structures are also a notable part of the county’s tourism. So, what makes the Cowley bridges unique among the 200+ other stone bridges in Kansas? WhyContinue reading “On the Stone Arch Bridges of Cowley County, Kansas”
The Esch’s Spur Bridge
The Esch’s Spur Bridge (called Kirk Bridge on the plaque) is a well-known triple-arch bridge outside Dexter, Cowley, Kansas, that is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Built in 1913 by Walter Sharp, this bridge has spanned Grouse Creek for over a century. Arguably the most renowned of the Cowley bridges, it isContinue reading “The Esch’s Spur Bridge”
