Gulph Creek Stone Arch Bridge - Delaware Department of ...

Chapter 3—Historic Context for Common Historic Bridge Types
Survey work has begun to turn up these early experimental examples though there has
been little in-depth research. These early examples have not been widely included in
many statewide bridge surveys, since the bridges are locally- or municipally-owned. Yet
they illustrate the variety and interest that the new material of the twentieth century,
concrete, incited in engineers. Most of these structures would be short to intermediate
spans located on rural country roads or lightly trafficked municipal roads. Because some
of these bridges might be the earliest examples of reinforced concrete bridge construction
in the United States, further study is required to determine their significance.
Examples of Reinforced Concrete Melan/von Emperger/Thacher Arch
1. Melan Bridge (also known as Rock Rapids Bridge) (1893), Emma Slater
Park (Moved from Dry Run Creek), Rock Rapids vicinity Lyon County,
IA. NRHP listed 1974. HAER IA-15.
2. White Bridge (1897); Hyde Park, Duchess County, New York, part of
Roosevelt-Vanderbuilt Historic Site. HAER NY-138.
3. Frankford Avenue Bridge (1904); Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
NRHP listed 1988. HAER PA-471.
4. Sandy Hill Bridge, Bridge Street (1906-07), spanning Hudson River,
Hudson Falls, Washington County, NY. HAER NY-185.
5. Alvord Lake Bridge (1889), San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA.
HAER CA-33.
Figures 3-47 though 3-49 depict, respectively, the first reinforced concrete bridge
in the United States, and two structures built using the Melan system.
Figure 3-47.
Alvord Lake Bridge (1889), San Francisco, San Francisco County,
California. Designed by Ernest Ransome, this is the first reinforced
concrete bridge in the United States.
3-56