Black Squirrel Creek Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Squirrel Creek Bridge |
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Bridge in 2008
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| Carries |  US 24 |
| Locale | Between Falcon and Peyton, Colorado U.S. 24 milepost 327.33 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge |
| Total length | 226 feet (69 m) |
| Width | 31.1 feet (9.5 m) (structure) 30 feet (9.1 m) (roadway) |
| Longest span | 150 feet (46 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Charles B. Owen A. S. Horner |
| Fabrication by | Minneapolis-Moline Power Implement Company |
| Construction end | 1935 |
| Closed | 2012 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 6500–8500 (circa 2011) |
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Black Squirrel Creek Bridge
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Architect | Colorado Department of Highways |
| MPS | Highway Bridges of Colorado MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001158 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 2002 |
The Black Squirrel Creek Bridge was an important bridge in El Paso County, Colorado. It carried U.S. 24 over Black Squirrel Creek. People often called it the "green bridge" because of its color. This historic bridge was built in 1935. It was a special type called a Parker through truss bridge. In 2002, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical sites. However, by 2012, the bridge was too old and didn't meet modern safety rules. So, it was taken down and a new bridge was built in its place.
Contents
History of the Black Squirrel Creek Bridge
Building the Original Bridge
In the 1930s, many roads in El Paso County were being rebuilt. This included the road that would become U.S. 24. New bridges were needed for these updated roads. The Black Squirrel Creek Bridge was one of them. Charles B. Owen and A. S. Horner were the builders. The metal parts of the bridge, called the truss, were made by the Minneapolis-Moline Power Implement Company. The bridge was finished in 1935.
The bridge had concrete supports (called abutments) at each end. These supports were hollow and had small barred "windows." These windows were actually for removing the wooden forms used to shape the concrete while it dried. The bars were put there to keep people out. However, these barred windows led to some interesting stories. Some people believed that prisoners or even German soldiers from World War II were locked inside the supports. These stories are not true, but they show how mysterious the bridge looked!
A Historic Landmark
The Black Squirrel Creek Bridge was very special. It was nominated to be on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places that are important to the history or engineering of the United States. The bridge was recognized for its role in transportation and its unique engineering design. When it was nominated in 2002, it was one of only eight Parker through truss bridges still used on Colorado's highways. The bridge was officially added to the National Register on October 15, 2002.
Why the Bridge Was Replaced
By 2008, many state-owned bridges in El Paso County, including the Black Squirrel Creek Bridge, were rated as "poor." This meant they no longer met modern safety standards. For example, the bridge's shoulders were only about 2 feet (0.61 m) wide. Also, the height clearance was 15 feet (4.6 m), which was 9 inches (23 cm) shorter than the minimum needed at the time. These issues made the bridge potentially unsafe for today's traffic.
The CDOT had a program to offer old bridges to groups who wanted them. They hoped someone would take the Black Squirrel Creek Bridge to use for something else, like a walking or biking path. However, no one wanted to take the old bridge. An engineer from the county said the bridge was "obsolete," meaning it was too old to be useful for modern roads. He felt that the cost to move and display it wasn't worth it.
Building the New Bridge
Since no one took the old bridge, a project to replace it began in November 2011. The whole project was expected to take about a year. First, a temporary two-lane road was built next to the old bridge. This allowed cars to keep driving while the new bridge was being built. Traffic moved to the temporary road in January 2012.
After that, crews began to take down the old bridge. Then, they built the new bridge in its place. They also repaved the road, added new guardrails, and planted grass. The project was finished in August 2012. It cost about $3.5 million. The new bridge has a lower design. It even includes a special plaque from the original 1934 structure, keeping a piece of the old bridge's history alive.
Design of the Old Bridge
The Black Squirrel Creek Bridge used a standard design from the Colorado Highway Department. Many bridges like it were built between 1922 and 1945. This bridge had a single span that was 150-foot-long (46 m). It was a Parker through truss design, which means the main support structure was above the road. The bridge rested on strong steel parts called bearing shoes at its four corners. One end of the bridge was fixed in place, while the other could slightly rock. These shoes were bolted to large concrete supports (abutments). These supports had an unusual U-shaped design on their side walls.
