State Highway 78 Bridge (Demolished) – Bonham TX

Description

SH 78 bridge at Red River is the only surviving K-Truss bridge in Texas. It has an overall length of 2,108 feet, and provides a crossing between Fannin County, Texas and Bryan County, Oklahoma. The “eight riveted K-truss through spans, with two camelback pony truss spans at each end” (Lauderdale, 1996) was a joint project between the Texas Highway Department and the Oklahoma Highway Commission. Primarily designed by OHC engineers, the K-Truss is “meant to afford greater span length and strength” (Jensen). Kansas City Bridge Company were the contractors, and there is a roadside park on each side of the approach roadway. The trusses were fabricated by Illinois Steel Bridge Company. Funding was provided through the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933. Construction was completed October 20, 1938 for $335,000.