South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge No. 63-197-130 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge No. 63-197-130
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 Location in South Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Davis, South Dakota |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1906 |
| Built by | Iowa Bridge Co. |
| Architectural style | Pratt through truss |
| MPS | Historic Bridges in South Dakota MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001210 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1999 |
The South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge No. 63-197-130 is an old and important bridge in rural Turner County, South Dakota. It helps 281st Street cross the East Fork Vermillion River. This bridge is special because it was built in 1906. It is the oldest bridge still standing that was built for the county by the Iowa Bridge Company. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
About the Bridge
This historic bridge is found in eastern Turner County. It is about 3 miles (4.8 km) north and 0.5 miles (0.8 km) west of Davis, South Dakota. The bridge is made up of six parts, called spans. It carries 281st Street over the East Branch of the Vermillion River.
How the Bridge is Built
Five of the bridge's spans are made of timber stringers. These are like long wooden beams that support the road. Four of these wooden spans are on the east side of the main part of the bridge. One is on the west side.
The most important part is the main span. It is a special type of bridge called a Pratt through truss. This means the main support structure is above the road, forming a kind of tunnel. This main span is 75 feet (23 meters) long.
Bridge Materials
The western end of the bridge rests on a timber trestle. This is a wooden support structure. The eastern end is made of concrete. It also has stone walls on the sides, called wing walls.
The truss part of the bridge is made of metal pieces connected by pins. This allows the parts to move a little, which helps the bridge handle weight. The road surface itself is made of wooden timbers. These timbers are laid over strong steel I-beams.
History of the Bridge
The Iowa Bridge Company, based in Des Moines, Iowa, built this bridge in 1906. This company had a contract with Turner County to build steel truss bridges. They worked together from 1905 to 1911.
At that time, it was common for companies to work in a way that wasn't fair competition. They would sometimes agree not to compete against each other in certain areas. This bridge is the oldest of four bridges built by the Iowa Bridge Company that were still standing in Turner County in the late 1990s.
