Historic Bridge - Moscow Mills Bridge

Bridge Location

County: Lincoln

Road: Route 814

Feature Crossed: Cuivre River 

Other Location Information: Moscow Mills

Structure Number or County Bridge Number: n/a

 

Bridge Information

Owner: MoDOT

Type: pin-connected Pratt through truss

Length: 215'

Width:

Year Built: 1885

Builder: Raymond & Campbell, contractor 

Current Load Rating: closed to all traffic

History of Modifications, Rehabilitations, etc.:

For further information, interested parties may contact

Name: Karen Daniels, Sr. Historic Preservation Specialist  

Organization: Missouri Department of Transportation  

Address: MoDOT Design Division, Historic Preservation Section, P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65101

E-Mail: Karen.daniels@modot.mo.gov 

Phone: 573-526-7346 

 

Narrative Description

The Moscow Mills Bridge is a pin-connected Pratt through truss span that carries Route 814 across the Cuivre River into Moscow Mills, Missouri. The bridges’ total length is 215’ long with short approach spans on either side of the main span. The substructure consists of two concrete abutments with wing walls, one concrete-filled iron cylinder pier at the east end, and one stone pier at the west end. The superstructure is a Pratt-through main truss span that is 177’ long with steel stringer approach spans on either end. The main spans lower cord is made of punched rectangular eyebars. The verticals are made of channels with lacing, and the diagonals are made of rectangular eyebars. The inclined end post and upper chord are made of two channels with top plates and lacing underneath. The top chord, verticals, and sway bracing are connected with pins. The deck of the bridge is asphalt on timber over steel stringers. The width of the deck is 16’ with curbs, and has two tier channel railings.

 The contract for the bridge was awarded to Raymond and Campbell which was the lowest bid at $3825. The bridge was fabricated by Carnegie Steel and later erected by Raymond and Campbell. It was the first all metal span across the Cuivre River in Lincoln County.  It was damaged from heavy flood waters in the winter of 1890. The river banks were washed away around the bridge, resulting in extensive repair work on the bridge.

 The bridge was constructed by the county. It was transferred to MoDOT to carry Route C. Ownership reverted to the County when Route C was realigned and a new bridge was constructed in 1966. Maintenance was transferred to the city of Moscow Mills.  The bridge is abandoned and has been unmaintained and closed to traffic since ca. 1992.

 The bridge was determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A and C as regionally significant in local transportation history and engineering. The Moscow Mills Bridge was the first all metal truss wagon bridge trail crossing the Cuivre River in Lincoln County and is good example of early metal wagon bridges in Missouri. It is also a good example as an early pin-connected Pratt through truss within Missouri.

MoDOT’s Historic Preservation Section is now accepting proposals for relocation of the bridge until January 31, 2020. A proposal checklist is available on MoDOT’s Free Bridges website. Preservation covenants may accompany the bridge.