Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Aban/Rock Island Bridge over Kansas River in Kansas City, KS

(Bridge Hunter, 1905-1980; Historic Bridges, 3D Satellite) The name was Armourdale Bridge.

Some of the Bridge Hunter photos confirm it is a lift bridge. It certainly didn't lift very far. Historic Bridges confirms that my guess that it was some sort of screw jack mechanism was correct.

Rock Island posted
Michael Jorgensen ballast or sand cars are common to keep spans from being washed from abutments.
John Matrow And it is still there.
Rick McLaughlin With no tracks on either side.
Bob Blomberg LOL! They tried leaving cars on a bridge in Cedar Rapids during that big flood 8 or 9 years ago, and the water pushed the cars over, creating a dam that made the water rise faster!
Update:

Street View
Chris Stivers posted
Armourdale Rock Island Bridge, Kansas City, KS. This bridge spans the Kaw River just west of the Missouri State Line, and was abandoned in 1972 due to the Kemper Arena being placed directly on the ROW.

KCTV

Old West Bottoms bridge could become new event space for Kansas City

"The old Rock Island Railroad Bridge near Hy-Vee Arena railroad bridge was built in 1905 and carried fully loaded freight trains. It’s been vacant for more than 40 years.
Zeller says they have plans to use cantilevers to expand the 18-foot width of the bridge 20-30 feet out each side. The first phase will turn the bridge into a bike and pedestrian bridge, complete with a coffee shop....The second phase will transform the 1905 bridge into a bustling entertainment center and food hall."

A profile shot that shows a bend in the bridge. The comment indicates it is locked in the up position. But that is not what any of the photos indicate, including recent satellite images.

Another Back Roads Photographer profile shot of the bridge has the comment:
Chris Knight It was actually in operation after Kemper Opened until Rock Island demise. The tracks were there until at least the mid 80s. I remember seeing the tracks at Kemper when I was younger. By the 90s the tracks were gone and the Bridge is now locked in the up position carrying some sort of telecommunications line across it now.

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