Bridge 650 (Barton County, Kansas) facts for kids
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Bridge #650 - Federal Aid Highway System Bridge
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Concrete box replacing Bridge 650
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 Location in Kansas
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| Location | North of Beaver, Kansas |
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| Built | 1940 |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000612 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 2, 2008 |
| Removed from NRHP | March 26, 2018 |
Bridge 650 was an old bridge in rural Barton County, located in the state of Kansas. It was made from strong limestone and concrete. This bridge was built a long time ago, between 1938 and 1940. It was part of a big project by the Works Projects Administration (WPA).
Bridge 650 was used for many years, even into the 2000s. In 2008, it was added to a special list called the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important historical sites. However, the bridge later became too old and weak for the heavy traffic it carried. Because of this, it was taken down around 2016 or 2017. It was then removed from the historic places list in 2018.
Contents
Building a Bridge for Tough Times
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, America was going through a very difficult period. This time was known as the Great Depression. Many people did not have jobs. To help, the Works Projects Administration (WPA) started many building projects. These projects gave people work and helped improve the country.
WPA Projects in Kansas
In Kansas, the WPA built hundreds of small bridges. They often used local limestone, which was a strong, natural stone. Bridge 650 was one of these bridges in Barton County. It was built over a small stream that flowed into Beaver Creek.
How Bridge 650 Was Built
Work on Bridge 650 began in 1938. The concrete parts were finished in 1940. You could even see "WPA 1940" stamped into the concrete curb.
The bridge had two sections, with a support in the middle. The base, the side walls (called wingwalls), and the middle support were made from cut limestone blocks. These blocks were held together with mortar. The top part where cars drove, and the guardrails, were made of concrete.
The bridge deck was about 26 feet (8 meters) long. Each section between the supports was about 11 feet (3.3 meters) long. The bridge was about 24 feet (7.3 meters) wide. The bottom of the bridge deck was about 5 feet (1.5 meters) above the ground.
Why the Bridge Was Taken Down
Bridge 650 was used for many years. But by 2007, people noticed it was getting old. The mortar holding the limestone blocks was falling apart. Also, the wingwalls, which protect the bridge from water, needed repair.
Becoming a Historic Place
In 2008, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It was hoped that being on this list would help get money to fix and maintain the bridge. Some people also thought that old WPA bridges like 650 might attract tourists. These tourists could visit them while driving along the Kansas Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway. This byway is a 77-mile (124 km) road that goes through Barton County.
The Decision to Replace It
Sadly, the money to fix the bridge never came. In 2013, an inspection showed that the bridge was "structurally deficient." This means it was not strong enough. Its foundation was rated as "poor."
In 2014, the Barton County leaders decided to replace the bridge. They noted that the bridge was too small for all the heavy farm and oilfield equipment that used it. They also estimated that fixing the bridge would cost about $50,000 more than building a new one. So, they voted to replace it with a new, stronger concrete box.
Final Steps and Demolition
Before taking down the historic bridge, the county agreed to follow federal rules. In 2016, they promised to protect four other historic stone bridges in the county. They also took many photos of Bridge 650 before it was removed. Later that year, the county accepted a bid of about $130,000 to replace the bridge. By late 2017, Bridge 650 was gone.
Two other WPA stone bridges, called Bridge 222 and Bridge 640, are still standing. They are about a mile (1.6 km) south of where Bridge 650 used to be. These two bridges look very much like Bridge 650 did.
