Hurricane Deck Bridge is a truss arch bridge

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 beam — see moon bridge for an example...

 located on Lake of the Ozarks

Lake of the Ozarks

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

 in Camden County, Missouri

Camden County, Missouri

Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 37,051. Its county seat is Camdenton. The county was organized in 1841 as Kinderhook County and renamed in 1843, for Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, Chancellor of England, and leader of the Whig...

. It carries Missouri Route 5 across the Osage Arm of the lake. It is perhaps one of the most distinctive features on the lake. It is 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 is about half a mile long.

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. 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.

Similarities and differences to the I-35W Bridge

The Hurricane Deck Bridge is one of the most identical bridges to the I-35W Bridge

I-35W Bridge

The I-35W Mississippi River bridge was an eight-lane, steel truss arch bridge that carried Interstate 35W across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. During the evening rush hour on August 1, 2007, it suddenly collapsed, killing 13 people and injuring 145...

in the nation and the most identical in Missouri. However, it is in much better condition today than the original I-35W Bridge.

Differences

• The Hurricane Deck Bridge has a longer main span than the I-35W Bridge (462 feet vs. 458 feet).
• The Hurricane Deck Bridge has piers in the water while the I-35W Bridge spanned both sides of the Mississippi River.
• The Hurricane Deck Bridge is a lot less busy than the I-35W Bridge (8,166 cars daily vs. 140,000 cars daily).
• The Hurricane Deck Bridge has a weaker steel construction than the I-35W Bridge steel construction.