Suger Creek Bridge, Spanning Suger Creek, Hopkinsville

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER KY,24-HOPVI.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Gregory D. Rawlings Prepared by: Paul E. Hawke, Historian Southeast Regional Office National Park Service Atlanta, Georgia Noveinber Suger Creek Bridge (Kentucky Route 124 Bridge) HAER No. (Page 2) The Kentucky Route 124 Bridge over Suger Creek in Christian County was determined eligible to the National Register of Historic Places on September 30, It is the oldest bedpost or truss-leg bedstead bridge in Kentucky and is dated It is also the only bridge in the State built by the Groton Bridge and Manufacturing Company of Groton, New York. This one-lane metal truss bridge is located in a serene rural setting amid rolling agricultural terrain. It is located on narrow Kentucky Route 124 on a long straight stretch and has a 6-ton posted load limit.

Due to its construction date, it may have been constructed of either wrought iron or steel. This three-panel, pin-connected bridge is 44 feet in length and 9.7 feet in width. The vertical end posts are two channels with two sets of lacing bars and extend below the deck to support the bridge. On the end panel, the bottom chords are sraall I-beams set at an angle for greater strength. In the center, the bottom chords are two square eyebars. Top chords are two channels, cover plate, and stay bars. Intermediate posts are two angles and lattice bars. Outriggers at the intermediate posts also give added strength. Diagonals are square or round eyebars. The floor system consists of rolled I-beam floor beams and stringers with a wood deck.

The "Survey of Truss, Suspension, and Arch Bridges: in Kentucky," completed in January located 2Q bedpost pony trusses in the State. of these trusses are located in the western and central portions of the State. These trusses are xisually less than 75 feet in length and were built between and The Suger Creek Bridge is the only pin-connected example in Kentucky. Although in poor physical condition, the Suger Creek Bridge retains its structural integrity. This National Register structure is considered a good representative example of late century bridge technology.