The Hurricane Deck Bridge was a

truss arch bridge A truss arch bridge combines the elements of the truss bridge and the arch bridge. The actual resolution of forces will depend upon the design. If no horizontal thrusting forces are generated this becomes an arch-shaped truss, essentially a bent b ...

located on

Lake of the Ozarks Lake of the Ozarks is a reservoir created by impounding the Osage River in the northern part of the Ozarks in central Missouri. Parts of three smaller tributaries to the Osage are included in the impoundment: the Niangua River, Grandglaize Creek ...

Camden County, Missouri Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 42,745. Its county seat is Camdenton. The county was organized on January 29, 1841, as Kinderhook County and renamed Camden County in 1 ...

. It carried

Missouri Route 5 Missouri Route 5 is the longest state highway in Missouri and the only Missouri state highway to traverse the entire state. It is part of a three state, 650 mile highway 5. To the north, it continues into Iowa as Iowa Highway 5 and to the south ...

across the Osage Arm of the lake. It was perhaps one of the most distinctive features on the lake. It was the only truss-type bridge remaining on the lake. The American Institute of Steel Construction selected the bridge as the most beautiful steel span built in 1936. It was about half a mile long. The bridge was replaced in 2013.

History

Construction for the bridge began in 1934 and was completed in 1936. The bridge was one of three bridges on the lake constructed with the truss support below the deck enabling passengers to see the lake clearly. The bridge construction was similar to that of the original

Niangua Bridge Niangua is a city in Webster County, Missouri, United States. The population was 405 at the 2010 census. Niangua is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The first settlement was made at Niangua prior to the ...

. Before the bridge was built, cars were moved across the lake by ferry. At one time the bridge was originally a toll bridge. The prices to pass were 40 cents for car and driver, 5 cents for each additional passenger; cars towing trailers had to pay 60 cents plus the nickel surcharge for each additional passenger. You could also save a dime by purchasing a round trip toll. In 2012, MODOT began construction to replace the bridge with a Delta Frame Bridge. It opened to traffic in 2013. The old Hurricane Deck Bridge was demolished in December 2013.

Similarities and differences to the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge

The Hurricane Deck Bridge was one of the most similar bridges to the

I-35W Mississippi River bridge The I-35W Mississippi River bridge (officially known as Bridge 9340) was an eight-lane, steel truss arch bridge that carried Interstate 35W across the Mississippi River one-half mile (875 m) downstream from the Saint Anthony Falls in Minneap ...

in the nation and the most identical in Missouri. However, it was in much better condition than the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge. It was of the Deck-truss construction for Vehicular traffic. The Hurricane Deck Bridge had a longer main span than the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge (462 feet vs. 458 feet). The I-35W Mississippi River bridge spanned both sides of the Mississippi River in contrast to the Hurricane Deck Bridge. Its daily traffic was about 8,000 cars daily versus 140,000 cars daily. Due to this, the Hurricane Deck Bridge had a weaker steel construction than the I-35W Bridge steel construction.

References

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External links

Bridgehunter.com
Bridges completed in 1936 Steel bridges in the United States Lake of the Ozarks Buildings and structures in Camden County, Missouri Road bridges in Missouri Former toll bridges in Missouri Truss arch bridges in the United States