Dearborn River High Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dearborn River High Bridge |
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Dearborn River High Bridge in May 1980
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| Crosses | Dearborn River |
| Locale | Lewis and Clark County, Montana |
| Maintained by | County Highway Agency |
| ID number | L25300009+00001 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Pratt half-deck truss |
| Material | Steel, concrete, stone |
| Total length | 251 feet (77 m) |
| Width | 16.1 feet (4.9 m) |
| Height | 100 feet (30 m) |
| Longest span | 160.1 feet (48.8 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Zenas King of King Bridge Co., Cleveland, OH |
| Construction end | 1897 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 100 |
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Dearborn River High Bridge
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | About 15 miles southwest of Augusta, Montana on Bean Lake Road |
| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Built | 1897, rehab 2003 |
| Architect | King Bridge Co. |
| Architectural style | Pratt half-deck truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 03001298 |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 2003 |
The Dearborn River High Bridge is a very old and special bridge in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. It was built way back in 1897. This bridge is famous because it's one of the last of its kind left in the whole United States. It's called a "Pratt half-deck truss" bridge. This means its main support structure is partly above and partly below the road. It crosses the Dearborn River on Lake Bean Road, not too far from Augusta, Montana.
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The Dearborn River High Bridge
The Dearborn River High Bridge is a historic structure. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. This list includes important places that are worth saving. The bridge is special because it's one of the few "Pratt half-deck truss" bridges still standing.
A Unique Design
The Dearborn River High Bridge has a very unique design. On a "half-deck" bridge, the road you drive on is in the middle of the bridge's main frame. This is different from most bridges where the road is either on top or at the very bottom. This special design helps the bridge carry lighter loads. It's also great for crossing deep areas.
The bridge has four main sections, called spans. The road itself is made of wooden planks. It is the very last "pin-connected Pratt half-deck truss bridge" still standing in the United States. "Pin-connected" means the parts of the bridge are joined together with large metal pins.
A Look at Its History
The spot where the bridge now stands has been important for a long time. Native American tribes, especially the Blackfeet, used this river crossing for many years. Before the bridge was built, this place was known as the Ponderay Crossing.
The River's Name
The Dearborn River got its name from Henry Dearborn. He was an important person in the government, serving as the United States Secretary of War. The river was named by the famous explorers Lewis and Clark in 1805. For about 50 years after that, not many Europeans explored this area.
Modern Updates
Building the bridge cost about $9,997 back in the 1890s. Construction started in 1896 and finished in 1897. In 2003, the bridge got a big update. The Montana Department of Transportation helped fix it up. Sletten Construction, a company from Great Falls, Montana, led the work. After these repairs, the bridge was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 2003.
