Chunky River Bridge

Chunky River Bridge
Chunky River Bridge
Coordinates	32°20′05″N 88°55′42″W / 32.3348°N 88.9284°W
Carries	Single-lane vehicular traffic
Crosses	Chunky River
Locale	Chunky, Mississippi
Official name	Chunky River Bridge
Heritage status	Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Characteristics
Design	Pratt through truss bridge
Material	Steel
Total length	100.6 ft (30.7 m)
Width	14 ft (4.3 m)
History
Constructed by	Nashville Bridge Company
Construction end	1911
Opened	1911
Location

The Chunky River Bridge is a historic bridge located in Chunky, Newton County, Mississippi.

History

Built in 1911 by the Nashville Bridge Company of Nashville, Tennessee, the Chunky River Bridge is a one-lane, single-span Pratt through truss bridge. The bridge is 100.6 feet (30.7 m) in length and 14 feet (4.3 m) in width, with a deck surfaced in wooden planking. It is approached at both the north and south ends by elevated roadways with wooden plank decking and low wooden railings.^[1]

The bridge was constructed to facilitate vehicular traffic across the Chunky River, serving as an important transportation link in the rural area. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 22, 2004, as part of the "Historic Bridges of Mississippi" multiple property submission.^[1]

Design and construction

The Chunky River Bridge features a Pratt through truss design, a popular type of bridge construction used in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The bridge's structural elements include steel trusses, wooden planking for the deck, and concrete-filled metal caissons supporting the metal truss span.^[2]

Significance

The bridge is significant for its engineering and is one of the most intact surviving examples of a one-lane Pratt through truss vehicular bridge in Mississippi. Bridges of this type were commonly built on rural roads throughout Mississippi from around 1900 through the 1930s, but surviving examples are now rare.^[2]

A comprehensive survey of all known truss bridges in the state of Mississippi pre-dating 1953 revealed that many such bridges have been demolished or abandoned, making the continued survival of the Chunky River Bridge notable.^[2]

Preservation

The Chunky River Bridge is maintained by the Newton County Board of Supervisors and remains in fairly good condition despite some rust and lack of regular maintenance. It retains its historical integrity and has not been altered since its construction.^[2]