Mears Memorial Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Mears Memorial Bridge is a truss bridge
on the Alaska Railroad
, completed in 1923. The bridge spans the Tanana River
at Nenana
and is among the largest simple truss-type bridges in the world.
The bridge’s namesake, Colonel Frederick Mears, was chairman and chief engineer of the Alaskan Engineering Commission, the railroad’s builder and original operator. He was also the brother-in-law of another well-known military officer, Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV
.
The bridge was the final link in the railroad, entering service in February 1923, a year after the rest of the 470 miles (756.4 km) line was finished. The AEC hired the Chicago firm of Ralph Modjeski
and Angier to design the bridge, and the American Bridge Company
to fabricate and erect it. The 700 feet (213.4 m) Pennsylvania through truss was the longest truss span in the United States when completed.
This bridge remains the third longest simple truss in North America and the longest span of any kind in Alaska (the Juneau-Douglas Bridge
main span across Gastineau Channel
at Juneau ranks second at 620 feet).
President Warren G. Harding
traveled to Alaska to drive the ceremonial golden spike
at the north end of the bridge in July 1923. It was one of Harding’s last public appearances prior to his death.
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
on the Alaska Railroad
Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad is a Class II railroad which extends from Seward and Whittier, in the south of the state of Alaska, in the United States, to Fairbanks , and beyond to Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright in the interior of that state...
, completed in 1923. The bridge spans the Tanana River
Tanana River
The Tanana River is a tributary of the Yukon River in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to linguist and anthropologist William Bright, the name is from the Koyukon tene no, tenene, literally "trail river"....
at Nenana
Nenana, Alaska
Nenana is a Home Rule City in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Nenana lies at the juncture of the Nenana River and the Tanana River. The population was 402 at the 2000 census. "Nenana" means 'a good place to camp between two rivers.'-History...
and is among the largest simple truss-type bridges in the world.
The bridge’s namesake, Colonel Frederick Mears, was chairman and chief engineer of the Alaskan Engineering Commission, the railroad’s builder and original operator. He was also the brother-in-law of another well-known military officer, Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV
Jonathan Mayhew "Skinny" Wainwright IV was a career American army officer and the commander of Allied forces in the Philippines at the time of their surrender to the Empire of Japan during World War II...
.
The bridge was the final link in the railroad, entering service in February 1923, a year after the rest of the 470 miles (756.4 km) line was finished. The AEC hired the Chicago firm of Ralph Modjeski
Ralph Modjeski
Ralph Modjeski was a Polish-born American civil engineer who achieved prominence as a pre-eminent bridge designer in the United States.-Life:...
and Angier to design the bridge, and the American Bridge Company
American Bridge Company
The American Bridge Company is a privately held civil engineering firm specializing in the construction and renovation of bridges and other large civil engineering projects, founded in 1900, and headquartered in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.-Products and industry positioning:The...
to fabricate and erect it. The 700 feet (213.4 m) Pennsylvania through truss was the longest truss span in the United States when completed.
This bridge remains the third longest simple truss in North America and the longest span of any kind in Alaska (the Juneau-Douglas Bridge
Juneau-Douglas Bridge
The Juneau-Douglas Bridge is located in Juneau, Alaska. Spanning the Gastineau Channel, it connects Juneau's eastern, mainland side with the cities community located on Douglas Island to the west...
main span across Gastineau Channel
Gastineau Channel
Gastineau Channel is a channel between the mainland of the U.S. state of Alaska and Douglas Island in the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska. It separates Juneau on the mainland side from Douglas , on Douglas Island. The first European to sight the channel was Joseph Whidbey early in...
at Juneau ranks second at 620 feet).
President Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
traveled to Alaska to drive the ceremonial golden spike
Golden spike
The "Golden Spike" is the ceremonial final spike driven by Leland Stanford to join the rails of the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States connecting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory...
at the north end of the bridge in July 1923. It was one of Harding’s last public appearances prior to his death.