Antique bridge is being retired in Wilson County

This old metal bridge, which previously spanned the Fall River on Wilson County’s Granby Road, can be seen alongside the work zone where a new bridge is under construction.

A few miles west of Neodesha on Granby Road, crews are working to build a new bridge over the Fall River. To the side of the work zone sits the old truss bridge that is being replaced with a modern structure.

King Construction Company is the primary contractor on the project, funded under the Off-System Replacement Program.

The old bridge is a Pratt through truss that had been in service on Granby for over 100 years – since 1914, to be exact. Introduced in 1844, the Pratt truss style was designed by Thomas Willis Pratt and his father Caleb Pratt. Pratt truss bridges use a triangular design with diagonal members that slope toward the center of the bridge. When a vehicle crosses the bridge the diagonal members feel tension while the vertical components experience suspension. The overall condition of this Pratt truss was rated ‘poor’ and the bridge had posted weight limits.

The old Pratt through truss bridge was built in 1914.

King Construction Company, Inc., of Hesston is contractor on the bridge replacement at a construction cost of $888,000. The structure qualified for replacement under the 2017 Off-System Bridge Program. The new bridge should be finished and open to Granby traffic later this year.