Stone Arch Bridges

Tag: Stones

  • Repairing With Concrete: Strengths and Weaknesses

    Concrete has frequently been used over the years to repair masonry structures. Sometimes, the structures thus repaired have held up well over the years, while others have deteriorated rapidly. In this post we investigate what makes the difference.

  • Detail of Repair to the Ellis Bridge

    Patching Damaged Masonry Part 2: Doing the Work

    Patching damaged masonry without dismantling large portions of a sructure is a delicate procedure, but can be done with care. Here are some tips on executing this type of project successfully.

  • Damage to Pudden Bridge

    Patching Damaged Masonry Part 1: The Concepts

    Patching damaged sections of masonry is possible without dismantling large sections of the structure. The key is understanding how the forces in the structure interact to allow a damaged structure to stand.

  • Otter Creek Bridge

    Stone/Concrete Hybrid Bridges

    In the early days of concrete, stone and concrete were sometimes used together in bridges to create a unique form of hybrid construction. These structures can be durable, but have weaknesses due to the multiple types of materials used.

  • The collapsed 251st road culvert

    Dexter Stone Arch Culvert Damaged

    One of the stone arch culverts we found in Cowley County, Kansas, has partially collapsed. In this post we examine the structure and analyze the cause of the failure.

  • Cabin John Bridge

    Multi-Ringed Arches

    While the typical stone arch bridge consists of an arch built with one ring of thick stones, it is possible to build a stone arch bridge with multiple arch rings to create a thick arch with relatively small stones.

  • Neer Bridge

    The Beauty of the Rubble Arch Bridge

    Rubble masonry can be aesthetically more appealing than ashlar. While ashlar masonry consists of stone bricks, the variability of rubble masonry tends to reflect the properties of the local stone and hence blends with nature.

  • 1887 Clear Creek Bridge, Marion County

    The Flint Hills’ Stone Bridge Heritage: Part 1

    The Flint Hills of Kansas feature a rich heritage, including stone arch bridges. After trying wood and steel, Flint Hills counties began to build enduring bridges out of the material of the hills themselves.

  • Clues to the Past: Cowley’s “New” Stone Bridges and the Oak Valley Culverts

    A comparison of the Oak Valley, Elk County, Kansas, culverts with many of those in Cowley County, Kansas, suggests there were quite a few stone bridges built by local governments independently of the WPA in the 1930s.