The Lecompton Road Bridge is a two-lane

girder bridge A girder bridge is a bridge that uses girders as the means of supporting its deck. The two most common types of modern steel girder bridges are plate and box. The term "girder" is often used interchangeably with "beam" in reference to bridge de ...

over Kansas River at Lecompton, Kansas, connecting to the nearby town of Perry. The current bridge, opened in 1970, is the second bridge at this location. Prior to 1898, travel across the Kansas River at Lecompton could only be accomplished by ferry. However, the fluctuations in the river level made the ferry difficult to operate, and in February 1897, the Kansas Legislature authorized

Douglas Douglas may refer to: People * Douglas (given name) * Douglas (surname) Animals *Douglas (parrot), macaw that starred as the parrot ''Rosalinda'' in Pippi Longstocking *Douglas the camel, a camel in the Confederate Army in the American Civil W ...

and

Jefferson Jefferson may refer to: Names * Jefferson (surname) * Jefferson (given name) People * Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States * Jefferson (footballer, born 1970), full name Jefferson Tomaz de Souza, Brazilian foo ...

counties to construct a bridge. Construction of the bridge proceeded quickly, and the new bridge was completed in February 1899, with a "bridge celebration" held on June 7. The bridge was damaged due to floods in 1903, 1905, and 1908. In 1910, an ice jam took out three spans on the north side. The spans were subsequently raised and restored, with the bridge re-opening in 1911. After the flood of 1951, traffic was restricted on the bridge. By 1965, the bridge was considered too dangerous for school buses to cross, so students had to cross on foot. Work on the current bridge began in November 1968. The old bridge was razed in 1969, and the current bridge was opened in September 1970. The bridge deck was replaced in 2007.

References

Bridges over the Kansas River Road bridges in Kansas Girder bridges in the United States Buildings and structures in Douglas County, Kansas Buildings and structures in Jefferson County, Kansas {{Kansas-bridge-struct-stub